Alker Decision Looms

Salford City Reds are awaiting captain Malcolm Alker’s decision on a new three-year deal that has been tabled to the star.

Steve Simms said: “I spoke to Malcolm this morning and he’s now with his agent and he said he will call me after training. I expect to hear something around 1pm and this afternoon we will know one way or another.”

Alker is currently in the middle of his testimonial season at the Reds but is believed to have been offered a late deal to play in the NRL.

With Sympathy – John Burn

The club would like to offer its deepest sympathy to the family of John Burn who died at The Willows during last Friday’s game against St Helens.

John’s funeral will be held on Wedsnesday morning and there will be a minute’s silence before next Friday’s game against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

Alker Sticks With Reds

Salford City Reds are happy to announce that club captain Malcolm Alker has agreed to sign a new deal that will keep him at the emerging force in Super League for a further three years.

Malcolm has been deliberating over his new contract for several weeks and the club finally told him they required a decision by Friday.

After extensive meetings with his agent it has been agreed that Malcolm would stay on and help the Reds into their new Stadium

Director of Football Steve Simms said: “It’s a great day for the club. We are delighted that Malcolm has agreed to be part of our vision of moving to Barton. The staff, the players and everybody involved with the club are very happy indeed.”

“”He is one of the form hookers in the competition and I think the best is yet to come.

“He did have an offer from the NRL but he has a young family and he just felt at this stage in his career it wasn’t the right move for him.”

Alker himself said: “My heart has always been with Salford and I love the city. You don’t spend 10 years at one place without some attachment to the place and I am honoured to be extending my stay and now have the chance to lead the club into the new stadium.”

‘Contract Is On The Table’

Salford City Reds have given captain Malcolm Alker a Friday deadline to accept or reject their offer of a three-year contract.

“His agent has been away but he is back tomorrow and we’ve asked him to let us know by Friday,” said Salford director of football Steve Simms.

“If Malcolm has an offer from the NRL, it’s a big decision for him. It’s the best competition in the world and he needs to think long and hard about it.

“But we need to know by the end of the week. We hope he decides to stay but we have other options.”

Alker, arguably the best uncapped hooker in Super League, has made more than 200 appearances for Salford since joining them from Wigan St Patricks in 1997.

Simms recently returned from a scouting mission to Australia which he says was “very productive”, although Melbourne Storm’s former Test stand-off Scott Hill is one player thought to have rejected an offer.

“It was worthwhile,” he said. “We’ve got three players who definitely want to come and we are talking to their agents.”

Meanwhile, Salford are anxiously awaiting a decision from coach Karl Harrison, who has also been offered a new three-year deal.

“Karl was made the offer on Monday and we hope to hear back from him shortly,” added Simms.

Watkins the Legend Returns

Monday will be a special day. The Reds are taking on Leeds Rhinos in a huge top 4 Super League clash but as a celebration of our time at The Willows some of our favourite sons will be returning to the hallowed turf led by none other than David Watkins.

Talks are in progress to get the Reds Legends to polish off their boots to provide the half-time entertainment but with creaky bones not in the shape of yesteryear it maybe that a game of rugby is out of the question – stranger things have happened though!

The Legends will be paraded around the field, so for many a young fan it will be the first opportunity they have to see and meet the likes of Watkins, Bettinson, Nash, Gibson, Evans etc.

Legends will be available for autographs in the Info Centre before the game. Listen out for match announcments informing you of their arrival.

Salford City Reds v Leeds Rhinos
Easter Monday
Kick Off 3pm

Don’t forget it’s Kid for a Quid on Monday!!

Harrison Wins Coach of the Month

Salford coach Karl Harrison has been voted the engage Super League coach of the month for March, by members of the Rugby League media.

Karl, 42, has guided Salford into a top-three berth, after some had predicted a tough time for the Reds before the season kicked off.

The former Great Britain international is currently involved in negotiations over a new contract with Salford, but has been strongly-linked in the media with a move back to former club Hull. The speculation recently prompted Salford’s football director Steve Simms, to issue a statement saying: “Karl is staying here. He’s told us he wants to stay and we rate him very highly.”

Harrison, presented with his trophy and a cheque for £100 on BBC’s Super League Show on Sunday, said:

“This award is down to the hard work and skill of the Salford players and I am confident we can continue our current good form to build on our promising start to the engage Super League season.”

Book a Place at The Big Match

Friday’s mouth-watering Super League clash between high-flying Salford City Reds and Huddersfield Giants is shaping up to be the game of the season so far.

With two, tough, uncompromising defences combined with exciting try-scorers we could be in for a real treat.

[CLICK HERE FOR PRE-MATCH ENTERTAINMENT INFO]

It’s 4th v 5th in the engage Super League with the Reds looking to open up a distinct gap between themselves and the chasing pack going into the crucial Easter fixture pile-up.

Free-scoring workhorse Simon Finnigan will be looking to add to his seven tries already this term while the likes of the returning Kevin McGuinness will add extra guile to the Reds’ backline.

Head coach Karl Harrison said at today’s press conference: “McGuinness will definately start on the bench, as will Chris Charles. Ian Sibbit will also come straight back into the startinging line up.”

“Everybody apart from Haggerty and Rutgerson are fit so the coaches have had a headache this week because we can only select 17 men. John Clough and Stephen Myler can count themselves very unlucky to be missing out, but we play a lot of games in April and will need to utilise our full squad at some point.”

*** Remember, if you pre-book your tickets you can save money off the advertised gate prices and if you can get to the ground before the day of the game then you can even pick up a family pass for an adult and a junior for a little as £15. That’s just ridiculously good value.

Click on the image at the top of the page for further details.

Salford 18-man squad: Fitzpatrick, Hodgson, McGuinness, Moule, Dunemann, Robinson, Coley, Alker, Finnigan, Sibbit, Charles, Highton, Wilshere, Stringer, Littler, Baldwin, Brocklehurst, Clayton.

Huddersfield 18-man squad: Reilly, Aspinwall, De Vere, Donlan, Thorman, Paul, Crabtree, Drew, Nero, Snitch, Wild, Jones, Jackson, March, Smith, McDonald, Raleigh, Gardner.

Referee: S Ganson

Reds Draw Wigan in Challenge Cup

Salford’s win over Dewsbury Rams has landed them a plum hom tie with Wigan Warriors in the next round of the Challenge Cup. The Reds, who have already beaten Wigan once this season will potentially be shown live on the BBC.

The game will take place on the evening of Friday 19 May at 8pm as it was not chosen by the BBC for screening.

Powergen Challenge Cup 5th Round
Huddersfield v York,
Widnes v Catalans Dragons,
Leeds v Rochdale,
Hull KR v Featherstone,
Harlequins v Barrow,
Warrington v Whitehaven,
St Helens v Bradford.

Ties to be played on the weekend of May 19-21.