Salford Red Devils have been wound up following an HMRC hearing, ending the club’s 152-year history in its current form.
The company that owns the team, Salford City Reds (2013) Limited, was issued with a winding-up petition by the Revenue and Customs in May.
They were granted four delays, and the court repeatedly gave them time to show proof of funds to pay off all their creditors.
Alexander Bunzl, for Salford City Reds, told the hearing in October that “more than adequate” funding should be available so the matter could be “resolved quickly”.
However, no funds have materialized since then.
On Wednesday 3 December, the club was officially liquidated as Salford City Reds (2013) were ordered to go into liquidation with debts believed to be around £4m.
The decision means that those debts will be written off, and Curtis Brown and Sir Kailahi, who became takeover parties, will no longer be owners of the club.
Decisions will be made to try and build a phoenix club that could be ready in time for the 2026 Championship season. Salford were due to start their Championship season in January against Oldham.
Salford Red Devils only had one player remain on their books in Jack Walker.
Supporters’ group, The 1873, released an official statement following the news saying: “Let’s be honest with ourselves. This outcome is coming. It’s long overdue.”
“That’s what the club needs to survive.”
“For months we have watched uncertainty grow over unpaid debts, unclear leadership and a breakdown in trust between owners and supporters.
“The writing was on the wall, and today – it was finally read out loud in court.”
“It’s a dark day, no doubt.”
The RFL has been contacted for comment.
Salford’s troubled season
Salford have been plagued by financial problems for over 12 months, operating under tight wage restrictions after failing to pay players and staff on time, and seeing all their star players depart during a campaign that saw them finish bottom of the Betfred Super League table.
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Hull and their fans have shown solidarity with Salford amid the Red Devils’ financial crisis
It was confirmed in October that they had lost their place in the expanded top flight next season in the club ratings and were temporarily relegated to the Championship for the 2026 campaign, with head coach Paul Rowley later leaving to join St Helens.
Their troubled season came after a consortium led by Swiss businessman Dario Berta completed a takeover in February this year.
This resulted in VeDo Finance paying salaries after their accounts were blocked.
The Rugby Football League (RFL) said Salford’s financial problems were “detrimental and debilitating to the sport”, but insisted the “only alternative” to approving the takeover earlier this year was “the very likely and immediate demise of the club”.