Blue is the colour as far as Sale Sharks and a possible move to Salford’s new Barton Stadium HQ is concerned.

While a raft of blue-coloured seats have been installed at the £26m brand new ground, which will officially open early next year, the Sharks are set to step up talks with the stadium’s co-owners – Salford City Council and Peel Holdings – over a potential groundshare agreement. Sale owner Brian Kennedy revealed earlier this year that Sale were exploring a potential move away from their current Edgeley Park base into the Reds’ new 12,000-capacity ground.

And the prospect of a Sale/Salford tie-up has now moved a step closer with Sale chief executive Mick Hogan confirming more talks are planned soon and that the Sharks are keen to try and strike a deal – provided the price is right.

However, Hogan revealed that the interests of Stockport County, who are Sale’s tenants at Edgeley Park, would also be a key factor in any prospective Barton deal.

“If the deal is right for our supporters, our players, sponsors and the like, then a move to Salford would make a lot of sense,” said the Sharks chief executive.

“It’s got modern facilities and if you want to attract the next generation of supporters it’s what they will expect. It’s like if you go to see a film people want to see it in a modern, clean cinema. Professional sport is no different.

“In terms of appealing to corporate guests, it’s got what Edgeley Park can’t offer with a lot more spacious, modern facilities.

“And from a location point of view, it couldn’t be better. We’re positioning ourselves now as the north west team and a move to Barton would open up more of the region to us with the M60, M61 and M62 corridors right next door.

“Edgeley Park is quite safe and welcoming but you’ve got pillars in the way in the main stand and there are limited food and beverage selling points. We make the best
available use of every nook and cranny there but it was built at the start of the last century.

Timescales

“In an ideal world, we’d like to stay there as we still own it but, given the current economic climate, finding the funds it would need to redevelop it would be difficult. And then there’s the time it would take. Even if the funds were available, there would be planning issues and all sorts of lengthy timescales.

“Looking at it realistically, unless you are a Premier League football club, most modern stadiums need two tenants. Otherwise, there’s not enough event days there to make them pay.

“They are expensive to build and can be expensive to maintain and you need as many pay days as you can.

“But any deal at Barton has to be right for our players, sponsors, staff, fans and it’s also got to be right for Stockport County as well as they are important stakeholders too.

“We don’t want any deal that leaves Stockport high and dry. If we were to move to Barton, County are a major tenant at Edgeley Park and will always be able to play at Edgeley Park – whether Sale Sharks are there or not.

“In some respects, it might be commercially better for them as it gives them different revenue stream options in terms of conferencing and banqueting and what have you, so it could be to their benefit.

“The talks are still at an early stage and we have to make sure the deal is financially acceptable for us all. Without that, everything else is irrelevant.”

For their part, Salford are thought to be more than open to the prospect of a groundshare with the Sharks.

The domestic rugby league and union seasons only dovetail between February and April and long-time Reds chairman John Wilkinson made his own views known earlier this year, by declaring: “If you’re honest and very realistic you would want Sale to play there.”

It’s also understood that Reds’ football manager Steve Simms is equally comfortable with the thought of the Reds’ union neighbours moving in.

“Barton is a truly fantastic sporting facility and it possibly deserves to host top-class sporting action there every single week of the year, all year round,” said Simms.

“We at Salford will play just 14 Super League games a year there. We have needed this wonderful facility for a while now but things have taken time and we’ve had to wait.

Terrific

“Our players and staff are obviously very excited at the prospect of starting a new season at a new stadium, hopefully, in front of big crowds.

“It is a state-of-the-art facility – I’m very impressed and not only is it first-class from a playing point of view, the corporate facilities and everything about Barton are equally terrific.

“Tell me a better sporting location in this country – it’s right at the side of a motorway. The area itself is thriving and provides a family day out.

“People could go, for instance, to the Trafford Centre and then head to the rugby. We have skiing, golf and other top-class leisure attractions at hand. I cannot think of a finer home base for a club.

“Spectator sport now has to cater for all aspects of family needs. Barton does this and more. It’s a major boost for us as an ambitious Super League club. We all look forward to being based there. It opens up so many opportunities and it has the kind of facilities that suit the needs of all supporters.

“I honestly believe exciting times lie ahead for the club in what is a stadium we are very proud of.”