New Australian coach Matt Parish has identified potential targets and is expected to start putting his plans into action.
While Welsh club Crusaders will make way for Widnes Vikings in rugby league’s top flight next season, Salford chairman John Wilkinson is confident about the club’s future under the ambitious Parish who has already made a big impression on the Reds supremo.
“It is a big plus having Matt here now ahead of the move to Barton next season,” said Wilkinson.
“He's a very tough taskmaster, a hard coach who knows what he wants and he will demand that.
“I’d got it into my head that we needed a special type of coach and person to take us in another direction.
“The response from the players to Matt suggests he is just what they wanted because he is challenging them and they want to learn.
“Matt has instantly impressed me. He’s been brought up with a lot of discipline around him and I’m looking forward to working with him because a lot of things have already changed. The next three years provide opportunity, the chance to progress and to fulfil our ambition.
“I’ve got to be pleased with the successful application and especially with the advent of the new stadium.
“It’s all good for the fans, the community and the city of Salford.”
Parish, meanwhile, is already making plans for the loss of Stefan Ratchford.
The 22-year-old stand-off is out of contract when the current campaign ends and has turned down the Reds’ offers of a new deal.
Parish confirmed he has agreed a move to Warrington, following in the footsteps of England half-back Richie Myler who made the same switch two years ago.
“He’s made his decision and we’ve moved on already. The club can do no more,” Parish said, although Warrington were unable to confirm or deny the deal had gone through.
Ratchford has made 103 appearances for Salford since his debut four years ago, and was seen as one of the club’s key players, especially ahead of their impending move to their new stadium in Barton.
Parish, who only joined the club earlier this month, is unhappy that the club are to lose one of their main assets and does not want it to occur again.
“From our perspective we don’t intend to let this ever happen ever again,” he added.
“Warrington have came down last year and took a player (Myler) off us and they’ve done it again this year.
“Personally I don’t think that is right but again it’s up to the kid to make a decision. He made it, so good luck to him.”
Parish meanwhile is calling on his players make one last push for their final three home games at the Willows, starting against Leeds on Friday.
“The boys are up for the challenge,” added Parish. “They need to realise this is a special place. It won’t be here next year and our performances must reflect the Willows traditions.”
Meanwhile, Parish is keen to create a family atmosphere amongst his squad to build unity and has hosted a social function to get to know the players, their wives and partners.
“I’ve told them their families come first but their football careers are important just behind this,” the Aussie added.
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Wales might be a start for recruitment, might be back to the glory days. David Watkins Maurice Richards, Mike Coulman and Colin Dixon. Then again I wouldn't mind betting there's a New South in front of the Wales they'll be looking at.
Here we go folks! Another day at the M.E.N. and it's Salford again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again.......................
All I want is an acknowledgement that Salford are a pretty damn poor team and Mr P PROMISES to teach them the basics.
Am I TOTALLY out of order to expect/hope/dream that my team will win something, (anything?) in the next five years?
We have to start again somewhere. Why not now? Good luck to every one concerned. John Wilkinson certainly deserves some real success. I feel that this could well be the start of something big for the Reds. Sad to see Ratchford go, but bigger names have gone before, and we have survived. Go Reds.
Ratchford will be no great loss,he is hardly in the same class as Chris Hesketh is he? onwards and upwards for what will be a really exciting and successful period in the Reds history, trust in the new coach and John Wilkinson-he deserves any success coming our way
It's a blow losing Ratchford but that's life and we move on.
In the future if we get hold of any promising stars of the future then I hope the Reds tie up these young kids with decent contracts and if another club comes in for them then at least the club can ask for a transfer fee instead of losing them for nothing like in this case concerning Ratchford.
I think Ratchford will do well at Warrington Wolves and all Salford fans will I know wish him well for the future.
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
NEW STADIUM at BARTON
A NEW FRANCHISE
A NEW HEAD-COACH IN CHARGE
THE FUTURE IS SALFORD CITY REDS..
No other team??? You mean apart from the one that is about to win Championship 1. And thats winning with a part time squad against other part time squads, not the unfair advantage of having a fully professional squad in the Championship and winning all those 'tough' games against all the other semi-pro teams. How did they do it?????
lancashire 4ever. have they got a specsavers in pendlebury. no such place as pendlebury manchester. that in a democracy.without prejudice or deceit or people wearing blinkers. a long long time since manchester lancashire
lion swinton. its called the system. if you dont like it change i.t or put the money up sky do
The System??? Of what? Being handed 'parachute' payments so you can carry a full time squad in a league where the vast majority are semi-pro, nothing like a level playing field is there? I will reiterate again how did the Barton Reds manage to romp away with the Championship title and the Northern Rail cup against such stiff competition? Bottom line 'In Salford' as far as rugby league is concerned it has NEVER been a level playing field!