Sale Sharks consider Edgeley exit

Neil Leigh

October 27, 2009

Brian Kennedy

SALE Sharks’ owner Brian Kennedy has revealed for the first time that he is considering moving his Premiership rugby club from Edgeley Park.

The multi-millionaire businessman admits that facilities at the ground that Sale own and currently share with League One outfit Stockport County are not good enough for the demands of top-flight rugby union.

And though he holds open the prospect of redeveloping Edgeley Park, Kennedy also issued an invitation to other business leaders and local authorities to join forces with him to develop a new ground – wherever that may be.

In the past, Sale have held talks over a potential partnerships with Lancashire County cricket club, Manchester city council and rugby league club Salford Reds, who are committed to developing a new ground at Barton near the M60.

But privately, Sale are understood to be disappointed over the level of support from Stockport council.

“We need better facilities to give our loyal fans and future supporters a great match-day rugby union experience,” said Kennedy.

“We can achieve this either by developing Edgeley Park or with the encouragement and help of local authorities and businesses, and fellow entrepreneurs to build a new purpose-built stadium – wherever we can be accommodated. I would ask them to contact me if this inspires them to get involved.”

Where do you think Sale should play? Have your say.

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chris harris (28/10/2009 at 08:02)

Anywhere away from Edgeley, never wanted, never needed and conspired to ruin a fine football club! don't slam the door on the way out!!!!!

Howard (28/10/2009 at 09:20)

I am from Stockport and having Sale playing at Edgeley is great. Not sure what is meant by lack of support from the council. But I will say this about the council. There shopping precinct is a dumped, they charge extortionate costs for parking, there roads system has been designed by a 5 year old, rental costs of business units are also extortion.

bru50, stockport (28/10/2009 at 09:33)

Mr Kennedy - please feel free to give us our ground back and move to whichever borough council will have you. I'm sure the Sharks will be welcome in Wigan, Bolton or wherever - hey why don't you go and play in ................................................Sale!!!!!!!!!

The Last Outpost, Wigglesworth (28/10/2009 at 11:39)

Warrington have a fine stadium just down the road....

The Last Outpost, Wigglesworth (28/10/2009 at 11:49)

worrying times for sale sharks. Falling attendences when premiership rugby attendences continue to rise. A squad shorn of its french stars and its enterprise . An antiquated stadium with heavily overpriced seats ( compare the prices to near rivals Leeds Carnegie). I think the Saracens experiment of attracting 42000 to wembley has got the owner thinking. However i dont think the supporter base can be expanded much more at these prices and with the quality of entertainment on the pitch.

Gary SK13 (28/10/2009 at 13:10)

I find the comments of the county fans on here quite amusing, if it was not for the attendances the sharks bring to edgeley park the football club would be in even bigger dire straits than it currently is.
If you are not interested in having you ground maintained- never mind developed, then fine. Perhaps Mr kennedy could have a word with Sheikh Mansour and see if he is interested in developing Sale into a world class club as well as City.

ted knott, droylsden (28/10/2009 at 15:34)

I would have thought Manchester United's stadium would be ideal for Sale but would mufc ever consider it? Personally I doubt it so what about City's stadium or perhaps the Athletics arena but in truth Old Trafford is within their area where they were formed and morally that would be the right choice however I dont think the United hirearchy would entertain it in fear of their pitch being worn out more quickly --however it would help ease the burden of repaying the interest on that massive £700m plus debt -WITHOUT QUESTION it would but there we are.

bru50, stockport (28/10/2009 at 18:41)

Gary - the problems started as soon as the egg chasers came.

gillykins, urmston (29/10/2009 at 08:18)

At least Sale have shown County how to put bums on seats!!!!! Bring the team back home to Trafford. I do hope they share with Salford reds in the new stadium, being able to walk to the games would be fantastic!

norse warrior, The North (29/10/2009 at 09:54)

We should stop all this bickering between all sets of NORTH WEST FANS of all codes of sport and get behind Brian Kennedy to turn the present stadium or even a new one into the pride of the North West. We only have one team in Premiership Rugby and we should all be doing our best to help and not hinder in the efforts of Brian and his team to get Sale back to the top of the league. Yes I can see both sides of the argument for the pros and cons for the stadium, but for goodness lets not detract from the point that if both Sale and Stockport County had not had this venture of a shared ground perhaps both could now have been lost to detriment of North West Supporters.

Ragnar 56

Tony Shaw (29/10/2009 at 13:57)

The obvious move is share a modern purpose built Rugby stadium, especially if that stadium has good access & parking.

Warrington is one option but surely sharing with Salford RL, in the new stadium just off the M60 has to be the most sensible option.

Nick Stone, Macclesfield (29/10/2009 at 16:41)

Kennedy's panicking, before Stockport County went into Admin, he had a buyer for the ground. Since the takeover was reported and the plans of the new owner to move County into another stadium, Kennedy's escape plan is falling to pieces. If County do move, then Kennedy will be left with a stadium which he will not be able to sell, because the Council being in Countys pocket will never allow the land to be used for anything other then whats there now. Thats what I think Kennedy is going on about, the lack of support from the council.

Antony May (05/02/2012 at 07:50)

I have only just started going to Edgeley Park so I might not be the best person to talk about this situation but I would like to see Sale Sharks stay in Stockport as I like the ground and with traveling from Sheffield the ground is in a good location to get to and get away from once the match is over.
Could the two clubs work together and build on what they already have there at Edgeley Park and get two great clubs both looking for success and a bright future.

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