Salford Red Devils are back under a sustainability cap after failing to pay players and staff on Monday.
The Betfred Super League club were initially placed in special measures by the RFL and restricted to a £1.2million cap after being advanced £500,000 in central funding to see them through an off-season financial crisis.
The salary cap restriction was lifted after a takeover by a consortium led by Swiss investment banker Dario Berta was confirmed by the governing body on February 20, but Tuesday’s meeting of the RFL’s special measures committee saw it reimposed after two dates to pay wages were missed.
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“The RFL Special Measures Committee have determined at their meeting earlier today that in addition to the existing restrictions on player movements in and out of Salford Red Devils that were already in place, the Sustainability Cap of £1.2m that was imposed on the club in February, and lifted ahead of their Betfred Super League Round Two fixture, will be reimposed immediately,” a statement from the governing body read.
“In addition, Salford Red Devils have been asked to update and explain to the RFL’s special measures committee and representatives from Rugby League Commercial at a meeting on Wednesday morning the current position regarding non-payment of staff, and how this will be rectified as well as a wider update on the club’s financial sustainability.”
Salford head coach Paul Rowley confirmed on Friday that February’s payroll had not been met on the final day of the month as per contracts, but expressed confidence the situation would be resolved by the start of this week.
However, Monday came and went with wages again not being paid, and Rowley again faces having to select a bare 17-player squad with a salary cap value of no more than £1.2million by Wednesday lunchtime, ahead of Friday’s trip to Castleford Tigers.
That was the case for both the third-round Betfred Challenge Cup tie away to Midlands Hurricanes and the opening match of the 2025 Super League season, where they were beaten 82-0 by St Helens after Rowley selected a team comprised mainly of reserve and academy players.
The Red Devils remain under investigation by the RFL over whether they contravened the Operational Rules around failing to field their full-strength team in that defeat to Saints, and had until February 24 to respond to the governing body.
Chief executive Chris Irwin is set to meet with the special measures committee on Wednesday morning to address the delay in wages, which was blamed on funding being held up due to regulatory issues in a statement issued by the Red Devils on social media.
“Salford Red Devils can confirm that the club will be under the restriction of a sustainability cap for this weekend’s Betfred Super League fixture against Castleford Tigers on Friday March 7,” the statement read.
“This is due to the delay of funding following the takeover with funds currently pending regulatory clearance.
“We apologise to [Salford’s fans] on behalf of our new ownership who have assured the club that the consortium is working to rectify the financial situation and there will be no further issues.”
The consortium which was granted approval to take over the Red Devils is made up of Berta and his business partner Kurt Graver, plus music promoter Saia Kailahi and project manager Curtis Brown.
