Salford Red Devils rugby league club liquidated after 152 years

Historic club wound up over unpaid tax as fans and former staff push for ‘phoenix’ revival.

Salford Red Devils have been officially wound up after a one-minute hearing in a specialist companies court on Wednesday 3 December. The 152-year-old rugby league club, one of the oldest in the sport, was dissolved due to an unpaid tax bill owed to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The hearing, which the club did not attend, brought an end to months of financial uncertainty and failed attempts to settle the debt. The case had been adjourned several times since June to allow time for repayment, but no agreement was reached.

The Rugby Football League (RFL) has since terminated Salford’s membership, ending the club’s formal participation in the professional game. The Red Devils were due to start their 2026 Championship season with a home fixture against local rivals Oldham on 16 January. Their full fixture list had been released just a day before the court ruling.

Salford endured a turbulent 2025 campaign, culminating in relegation from the Super League. The season was marked by financial instability, repeated delays in wage payments, and the cancellation of at least one fixture due to a mass exodus of players. The club’s operating company, Salford City Reds (2013) Limited, also went into liquidation as part of the court process.

In a statement issued prior to the court date, the club acknowledged the uncertainty and said it hoped for a “positive resolution”. However, no solution emerged, and the liquidation was confirmed.

Former chief executive Chris Irwin, speaking on behalf of a prospective consortium, said the day marked the end of a difficult year. “We all knew it was coming, the inevitable was prolonged,” he said. However, Irwin also insisted the Red Devils “will never die”, hinting at plans to re-establish a new club to carry on the team’s legacy.

Fan group The 1873 echoed this sentiment, calling the process a “bitter chapter” in the club’s history and pledging support for a “community-rooted structure” to rise from the ashes. “The people of this city have always been the heartbeat of the club,” they said.

Efforts are now underway to create a phoenix club in time to honour the old team’s Championship fixtures. Supporters and local business figures are reportedly exploring ways to form a new club that can retain the Red Devils’ identity and potentially take over its place in the rugby league pyramid.

The situation mirrors past examples in British sport where new clubs have emerged following the demise of historic teams. However, this process will require RFL approval and a sustainable financial plan.

Salford has deep roots in the sport, with historical ties to William Webb Ellis, widely credited with inventing rugby. The team’s last period of stability came in 2024, when they finished fourth in the Super League. In the same year, Salford Council took full control of the city’s Community Stadium, which was the team’s home ground.

A club statement said: “There is a sense of relief that an extremely challenging period has finally come to an end. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to all the fans who have stood by us through everything. More than anything, we hope the club’s proud name and history can live on.”