‘Pay Them’: Salford Red Devils’ Troubling Financial Crisis Exposed as Players and Staff Go Without Wages

Former Salford Red Devils player Jackson Hastings has labelled the current predicament of the club as “a joke”, following the news that players and staff have not received their wages on time for the second consecutive month.

The Super League side finds itself in turmoil, having been acquired by a consortium led by businessman Dario Berta just eight days prior to the season’s commencement in mid-February.

This acquisition was supposed to provide an opportunity to address the club’s financial issues, yet challenges have persisted.

Prior to the new ownership, Salford was facing salary cap sanctions and was placed under a $2.46 million (AUD) sustainability salary cap in January, which forced the club to begin offloading players. They were restricted to registering players within this budget.

This ruling led to an embarrassing 82-0 defeat against St Helens in round one. By the end of February, reports emerged that wages for players and staff were overdue, despite the change in ownership.

After the Red Devils’ match against Castleford in round four, players eventually received payment, but there were lingering doubts about who actually facilitated that payment.

Recently, the financial issues have resurfaced, with the club announcing on Thursday (AEDT) that payments were once again unpaid.

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“As many will be aware, our payroll was not processed this morning as planned, despite prior assurances. It remains a challenging time for everyone associated with Salford Red Devils,” the club stated.

“Despite this, we, as players and staff, have maintained our professionalism, ensuring the club remains competitive on and off the field. We now look for the same commitment from those responsible for the stability of our organisation.

“The unwavering support of our fans and partners during this tough period is both humbling and motivating; it truly makes a difference to our players and staff.”

Hastings, who made 41 appearances for Salford, expressed his thoughts on social media, stating the situation was “hard to watch”.

“I can’t imagine what it’s like, especially for the players with families to support,” he tweeted.

“I don’t have all the details, but it’s turning into a joke for the players and staff. People’s livelihoods are at stake, and yet there’s an expectation for wins? Pay them!”

Earlier in March, amidst confusion regarding payments after the Castleford match, former England representative and current Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin described the situation as “disgraceful”.

“The silence around this is concerning… I think the whole situation is disgraceful. It’s all a disgrace,” he remarked.

“We can discuss the lack of communication, but we’ve seen a club that has deteriorated, spending money it can’t afford for far too long. The blame lies squarely with the organisation.”