The shadow of Salford Red Devils’ financial troubles looms large over the Super League, fuelling fierce opposition to a “perplexing” expansion plan. Clubs are pointing to the fragility of existing members as a key reason why adding more teams without a solid financial plan is a dangerously irresponsible move.
The argument from the dissenters is simple: the league should get its own house in order before building an extension. With one of its current shareholders facing potential insolvency, the immediate priority, they argue, should be to ensure the stability of the 12-team competition. Expanding at a time of such uncertainty is seen as a major, unforced error.
This view is strengthened by the league’s overall financial health. Most clubs are not profitable, and all are reliant on a broadcast deal with Sky Sports that has shrunk in recent years. The broadcaster’s opposition to the 14-team plan has created a nightmare scenario where the league’s income could shrink further just as its costs are set to increase, placing everyone in a more precarious position.
The Rugby Football League (RFL) has been criticised for ignoring these warning signs. The failure to provide a “rigorous financial analysis” of the expansion’s impact, especially in the context of Salford’s situation, has been a major source of frustration and is driving the current rebellion. Clubs feel the RFL is not facing up to the reality of the league’s financial weakness.
While the RFL can point to a July vote in favour of expansion, the context has either changed or is now being viewed more soberly by the clubs. The shadow of Salford’s struggles has made the abstract risks of expansion feel much more real, prompting a desperate, last-minute plea to “press the pause button” before the league’s fragility is exposed even further.