Though the Aviva Premiership club are committed to playing at Edgeley Park next season, Kennedy says the club are in negotiations about a potential cross-code switch to Super League side Salford’s new £26m City of Salford
Stadium in the long term.
Sale are also still talking to council leaders about staying in Stockport and re-developing the ground they share with
Stockport County.
Work on Salford’s new stadium, which is opposite the Trafford Centre, began last December and the 12,000-capacity ground is set to officially open in February.
Though it will be the new home for Salford, the stadium – which is a joint development between Peel Holdings and
Salford council – has been developed and branded as a community venue. Crucially, with the rugby league season running from February to September, there would be little cross-over with the union calendar should Sale make the move.
And its location at the hub of Greater Manchester’s motorway network would make it ideal for the vast majority of the Sharks’ fanbase.
Its large banqueting suite and 12 hospitality boxes would also help Sale generate more commercial revenue from blue-chip home fixtures, an area where Edgeley Park is sorely lacking at present.
With Edgeley Park rapidly showing its age, the club urgently need to make a decision on what will be their long-term HQ, with Leigh’s Sport Village complex also a possible contender.
“We’re weighing up all the possibilities and there are clearly possibilities in Salford as well as with Edgeley Park and elsewhere. There’s a lot of things to consider,” Kennedy said. “However, we’re not yet ready to make a decision and we’ve also got to consider seriously what’s right for Stockport County because that’s important.
“We are in the process of working on some initiatives that will help Stockport and, hopefully, give them the best chance of getting back up into League Two.
“All these things are in the boiling pot and, hopefully, we’ll come up with some initiatives over the next month or so.
“But clearly Salford is one option that we are considering very seriously and it’s one that the powers that be are keen on. We’re in the process of discussions and negotiations and we don’t know where that is going to end.”
Kennedy has also been exploring a three-way re-development of Edgeley with the costs divided between the Sharks, Stockport council and Stockport County.
Though that option hasn’t been entirely derailed, the impact of the swingeing local government cuts as well as the recent change in the political landscape at Stockport council, following May’s local elections which saw the Liberal Democrats lose overall control, have only served to put further obstacles in the way of that tri-partnership.
“I think what’s happened with the cuts and the change at the election has made the Stockport option more difficult,” Kennedy said. “But we’ve got a great relationship with Stockport council and a very honest relationship with the executive and with the chief executive and his deputy.
“They will do what they can do to keep Sale Sharks in the town but, equally, we have got to do what’s best for Sale wherever that may be.
“They know exactly what we’re thinking and considering and all sides have very clear visibility on that.
“Time wise, there is no deadline but we are just in the process of considering all these things right now.” Tweet
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I don't want the egg-chasers on our new ground. With RU consisting of little else but kicking the ball into the stands won't it be a danger to the passing motorway traffic?
this comes as no surprise whatsoever and had been expecting it for months now. Actually not a bad idea as it means the stadium will get year round use and I feel that salford and sale would struggle to be in there on their own. all in all a good move I think
Although it remains to be seen what would happen to the ownership of Edgeley Park, this would also be the first step in rebuilding the dignity of Stockport County FC.
i have no issue with Sale sharing our ground, it makes financial sense and they play at different times of the year as pointed out
It makes perfect financial sense.
eqiudistant between the two to sale's old ground at heywood road.
And its a newer stadium.
Before they put the seats in i think they should make sure they're blue as sale will get more fans.
It makes perfect sense as Salford have a very small fanbase and Barton is as the crow flies much closer to Sale than Stockport.
Why don't Sale just give up on this myth that there's enough interest in rugby union to support a top-flight team in the north of England? Rugby union, despite the media attention and government and sponsorship cash lavished on it by former public schoolboys, is a minor regional sport which only exists outside a few towns in the south Midlands and the M4 corridor because of the handful of public schools that shamelessly promote it. Mr Kennedy's millions may have artificially propped up the 'Sharks' (or the 'Smoked Salmon', as I like to think of them) for a decade or so, but the sooner they go back to being a member's club putting out social teams the better - look at the way Orrell have done it for an example.
If its just about business it must be a no brainer surely - Salford/Sale are a better fit than Sale/County even if the public transport links at Barton are pants. And it would serve all the whinging one eyed County fans right. They're destined to be like Workington , Southport, Scarborough, Boston United - a quiz question. In fact when they're playing in the North East Cheshire Combination League (Division 3) people will find it hard to believe they ever actually played League football. It's the boozers and businesses around Edgeley i feel sorry for. This will hit them hard.
Why do Sale Sharks keep the name of Sale? They have long since ceased to have any relevance to the Sale area and a move to Barton would merely emphasise the point. Mr Kennedy ought to be brave enough to change the name of the club.
HOPE THIS NEVER HAPPENS!!!!
I'm a Sale fan, I used to watch them at their ancestral home of Heywood Road in Sale, but that ground was too small for Premiership union regulations.When they moved to become tenants at that dump called Edgeley Park, I found it a much worse experience, having my car broken into on three seperate occasions. The County fans don't want us there (unlike their board of directors) even though they are now the 'smaller' club having been relegated from League 2. The surface at EP is a disgrace.
I would much rather Sale found their own home, rather being tenants, but significant investment is required which I doubt will ever come.
So the Salford share seems like a better option. Access is good if you have a car, but the nearest metro is in Eccles, the nearest train in Irlam or Patricroft? Buses stop at Brookhouse i think!
As for the usual dreary comments aout league vs union...yawn. Jealousy is a terrible thing fellas. Andrew Fowler the 'egg-chasers' as you call them use a similar shaped ball to league. Did you actually know that?
Osato. you seem to incredibly misinformed when it comes to union clubs. there are 3 pro clubs north of birmingham, not 1. I am not going to get drawn into yet another 'argument' over league vs union. you will never convince me league is best and i won't even start to persuade you.
I am not a league man. i was brought up in Chesire on union and just to dispell your myth even more i went to a comprehensive school too. Get your facts right before posting.
Who's underwriting Salford's great leap forward anyway? Who's paying for the upkeep of Salford's nice new spread?. If its the LA and by extension the ratepayer every effort should be made to get a co tenant in who can pull in a few punters to minimize the burden and risk. A lot of money's being chucked at club with a limited fanbase and a limited appeal to the local resident. However i can understand a little concern - inviting a cuckoo into the nest so to speak . Who knows? If Salford don't watch it they could end up sharing Moor Lane with the Ammies . But then at least they'd actually be playing in Salford .