Watson Joins Reds’ Board

Salford City Reds are delighted to announce that Salford business man Iain Watson has joined the board of Directors at Salford City Reds. Iain is one half of Property developers Godliman and Watson who have been involved with the club as associate Shirt Sponsors for the past two seasons.

Iain said ‘It was always great to be involved as a sponsor so I was very proud to be asked to join the board, it was a nice moment. To be on the board, as a diehard fan, brought up on the club is the realisation of a boyhood dream. With the new stadium coming up fast Salford City Reds is a great club with a big future – I’ll serve the club as best as I possibly can and put in as much as I possibly can.’

Formed in 1985 by Barry Godliman and Iain Watson the company is involved in the urban regeneration of Salford and committed to enhancing the area in which they develop. They have gradually expanded over the past 20 years, training many of their staff as part of a loyal and competent workforce which takes great pride in its work.

Salford City Reds Chairman, John Wilkinson said, ‘I’m delighted to welcome Iain to the Board of Directors. He is an asset to the club, involved initially as development sponsor and then bringing on board the charitable trust, two important steps for the club. Iain is a local man, proud of his roots and a successful businessman in the construction industry and his acceptance to join the board at a crucial time in the clubs history is a positive step for the club’.

Open Letter from Karl Harrison

At the end of a week that included the departure of Head Coach Karl Harrison we spoke to the big man for a final time before he heads to pastures new.

Everybody at the club would like to wish Rhino all the very best for the future and we’re sure we’ll cross paths once again.

‘I would like to take the opportunity to thank everybody at Salford City Reds and especially the fans, all of whom have been very supportive to me during my time at the club.

It has been an extremely unfortunate start to the season and I have paid the ultimate price losing my job, however I hope the Salford supporters fully understand the reasons behind the chairman’s decision and I can assure you that I have left the club on amicable terms.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank my colleagues at the club – the backroom staff who work incredibly hard and who always had belief and trust in me and my role as coach, David Tarry and all the administrative staff, Chairman John Wilkinson, Steve Simms and the board of directors.

More than anything I would like to thank all the supporters. I feel that during my five years at Salford I had a special relationship with the people of Salford and that is something I will remember throughout the rest of my career.

As for the future, I don’t think that I have become a poor coach overnight and I will use this opportunity to springboard my career in another direction. I am and will always remain very proud of my achievements at Salford and the players that I have coached throughout the years.

On behalf of myself and my family, thank you all for your support and I wish Salford City Reds and the supporters all the very best for the future.

KARL

Simms Hold First Press Conference

aretaker coach Steve Simms and Malcolm Alker presided over the pre-match press conference to a packed room ahead of Friday’s game with the Giants.

The questions opened with the somewhat predictable question of the new head coach.

Simms said: “We have had a lot of applicants. Some are head coaches, some are assistants, some are working and some are out of work but I can say there are some very qualified people there. Despite our current position this is a big job.”

Simms also confirmed that current assistant coach James Lowes had applied for the role and would definitely make the shortlist.

“Jimmy has applied and that’s the reason we have not made him caretaker coach. We felt it would be unfair that if the team kept losing it would reflect badly on his application but he is here and has been at training with me this morning.”

Simms was then pressed on the arrival in the UK of Shaun McRae today.

“Shaun is a good friend of mine and is over here to see his wife’s family. We were due to meet up for a drink anyway and maybe he will be at the game tomorrow.”

Meanwhile Malcolm Alker laid it firmly on the line: “It’s time for the players who have been underperforming to step it up a gear and take responsibility. For the entire time they are on the field tomorrow they have to perform to their maximum.

“Over five years I became good friends with Karl (Harrison) but it is the nature of the business that the man at the top gets the bullet. But we are now fighting for our survival, our livilihoods and our families or we will be next. The guys know this and there has to be an improvment against Huddersfield.”

Simms added “By the time we get this game and Saints away out of the way we have a week off and then go into a series of games that are winnable. By then we will have our new coach in charge plus we will be pretty healthy. Moule, Edmondson, Alker, Sibbit, Haggerty and Highton will all be back and Fitzy will be back two week after that. We’re not out of this fight yet.”

Alker said: “I’ve been in this position twice before. I survived once and went down the other. We know what it’s going to take and we are looking for six or seven wins to take us to safety. We are looking at what Wigan and Wakefield did last season as inspiration but first of all we need to up our collective performance tomorrow.”

Salford City Reds 20-man squad: Hodgson, Viane, McGuinness, Littler, Wilshere, Dorn, Robinson, Coley, Berthezene, Korkidas, Brocklehurst, Jewitt, Finnigan, Haggerty, Adamson, Gower, Turner, Williams, Nash, Highton.

Huddersfield Giants 20-man squad: Reilly, Aspinwall, Lolesi, Brown, Thorman, Paul, Crabtree, Drew, Skandalis, Nero, Raleigh, Wild, Jones, Jackson, Mason, Griffin, Hudson, Snitch, Gardner, Hemingway.

Red Scoops Lottery Jackpot

Salford City Reds Lottery winner, George Barber is £10,000 better off after scooping the Reds’ rollover jackpot.

Having been told the good news, Salford City Reds’ fan George initially thought he had won the weekly £1000 draw, but was delighted to find out it was the rollover and whilst he popped into the club to pick up his prize cheque he was keen to tell us how he would be spending his money.

‘I’m absolutely delighted, the money will give me the opportunity to leave my current job and work for myself, which I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I’m also planning a holiday in September with my partner Christine, so some of the money will go to making that a trip to remember.

George will join his children and grandchildren for a celebration at The Willows tomorrow (Friday), when Salford City Reds take on Huddersfield Giants at The Willows.

The thriving lottery department is attracting new businesses with the involvement of local lettings and management agency Barlow White, becoming official Lottery Sponsor and the Burnt Tree Group, who have become Lottery vehicle sponsor and have donated a car that advertises Salford City Reds and specifically the lottery department.

Branch Manager of the Burnt Tree Group Wayne Reece said ‘The Burnt Tree Group recognises the importance of investing in the Manchester area. With the support and sponsorship of Salford Reds we feel we are adding to our local commitment to show our customers and staff we are committed to invest and grow in Manchester.’

Reds’ Sack Karl Harrison

Salford City Reds can confirm that the Club has terminated the contract of Head Coach Karl Harrison with immediate effect. The decision comes after a disappointing first half of the season and following the recent results in France. Karl met this morning (Tuesday) with Club Chairman John Wilkinson, CEO David Tarry and Football Director Steve Simms.

Club Chairman John Wilkinson said: “The Board of Directors would like to thank Karl for his hard work and service during his five years here at Salford City Reds. The club feel that with 13 fixtures remaining the time has come for a new direction. We wish Karl all the best for the future”
Harrison, a former Great Britain prop, was the longest-serving coach in the Super League joining Salford in June 2002.

Unable to keep the team in Super League that year Harrison subsequently secured immediate promotion the following season culminating in a first appearance in the top six play-offs last autumn. However the club finds itself in an unfortunate position and feels that it needs to make this move to secure its position in Super League.

The departure of Karl Harrison will see Steve Simms take the role of caretaker coach, whilst the club secures the services of a new coach

RFL Launch FairPlay Index

Team discipline is to be put under the spotlight in a new weekly Fair Play Index launched today by the RFL and its latest Official Partner, Frontline Bathrooms.

The Frontline Fair Play Index will operate in both the engage Super League and the Co-operative National League One, for league matches only, with clubs receiving points for the number and type of penalty conceded, sin bins, sendings off and match bans.

The Frontline Fair Play Index will be published every Wednesday, to take into account the previous night’s RFL Disciplinary Committee hearings. At the end of the season the Club in each division with the lowest total of points will receive a Frontline Fair Play Trophy and prize worth £5,000.

The scoring system for engage Super League will be as follows:

1 point Technical penalty

2 points Foul play penalty

3 points Sin bin

4 points Sending off sufficient

5 points For each match suspension, thus a one match suspension is five points and a five match suspension is 25 points.

Taking into account the 13 Rounds of engage Super League so far, the Frontline Fair Play Index is as follows:

Stuart Cummings, RFL Match Officials Director, said: “We’re delighted that our new official partner Frontline is helping us to produce the weekly Fair Play Index. Rugby League is a game built on respect and discipline and I’m confident this Index will further encourage this and highlight outstanding levels of achievement.

“It will give fans an alternative insight into a team’s performance and I’m sure when the table is published it will spark a huge debate amongst fans, players, coaches and commentators.”

Michael Sammon, Frontline Bathrooms Marketing Manager, added: “The modern day game is increasingly being better informed and ultimately stimulated by statistics.

“The Frontline Fair Play Index is the latest information service for coaches, players and fans, providing a weekly focus on team discipline. The Frontline Index is destined to become a barometer for controlled performance and a platform for debate.

“The principle of a Fair Play Index is well established in International football tournaments and Frontline are delighted to underwrite its introduction to the 13-a-side code.”

As RFL disciplinary hearings for Co-operative National League sides are heard one week after the offence is committed, the Frontline Fair Play Index for teams in National League One will be one week behind those of the engage Super League. The scoring system will also be slightly different for Co-operative National League clubs, with all penalties scoring one point.

You can access the FAIRPLAY INDEX HERE

Turkeys Snatch Quiz Win

The Scarlet Turkeys quiz team can confidently call themselves the Salford City Reds most knowledgeable fans following their superb victory at the inaugural ‘Tetley’s Question of Rugby’ event, held at the Willows.

Tetley’s, the official beer of the Salford City Reds, held the showpiece quiz evening as part of its ongoing support for the club with top stars Karl Fitzpatrick and David Berthezene taking on team mates Aaron Moule and Lee Jewitt in two all-star top table teams.

The Scarlet Turkeys, captained by Iain Peacock from Prestwich, a lifelong Reds fan, beat off stiff competition to claim top spot on the night, booking their place in a Champion of Champions event to be held ahead of the Super League Grand Final. The team also booked their place at Old Trafford with tickets to the Grand Final.

Tested on rugby league, general knowledge and of course their knowledge of the Reds, the team came top of a tight field winning by a single point.

Iain said: “It was great to win the Tetley’s Question of Rugby as we are all huge Salford City Reds fans. It was a great evening and the teams and players really got in to it. Plus we get to go to the grand final, which will be a brilliant day out for all of us.”

Karl Fitzpatrick added: “Salford fans really got into the quiz and it was great to see so many of them taking part. It was really competitive on the night, even on the top tables between Aaron and Lee and David and me! Unfortunately, the right questions didn’t come for our team!

Red’s mascot Ignito made a special appearance as the mystery guest for the final round.

Tetley’s, which has been brewed in Yorkshire since 1822, is holding 10 Question of Rugby events at Super League and National League clubs throughout the season.

Jimmy Gets GB Role

New GB Head Coach Tony Smith has appointed Salford City Reds Assistant Coach James Lowes as Great Britain Rugby League Trainer for the 2007 international programme.

The part-time role will see the former international hooker join the Great Britain squad’s preparations for the forthcoming Frontline Test against France and for the Gillette Fusion Test Series against New Zealand this autumn.

The Trainer role will see Lowes integrate with the Lions coaching staff and assist with all training sessions. The Trainer will also carry out all appropriate on-field duties on match days.

Commenting on his appointment, James Lowes said: “I am delighted to have this opportunity to be involved with the international set-up and to work with international players.

”It is a great chance to expand my coaching experience and also to work closely with high quality coaches such as Tony Smith and Steve McNamara.”

Lowes added: “I hope that the fact I have a decent knowledge of the guys in the Great Britain squad and have played alongside and against some of them will help me settle down in the Trainer role.

“It is pleasing to see a Test match against France come back onto the international calendar. The introduction of Catalans Dragons to engage Super League has definitely had a positive effect on playing standards across the channel and this match will certainly be a great challenge for our squad.”

Also commenting, Great Britain Head Coach Tony Smith said: “I am delighted to have Jimmy on board with us. He is of course a former Great Britain player himself and therefore brings experience from the international scene.

“He certainly understands what competing at that level is all about and that will be a great benefit to the squad.

“I am looking forward to working with Jimmy and the no-nonsense approach he brings. He tells it as it is and that is certainly an approach we want to take collectively as a coaching staff.”

Great Britain take on France in the Frontline Test Match at Headingley Carnegie Stadium on Friday June 22nd 2007.

Meanwhile, tickets for June’s Frontline Test Match between Great Britain and France at Headingley Carnegie went on sale last week with special discounts for all Rugby League season ticket holders and children’s tickets costing just £5.

The cheapest adult ticket for a season ticket holder is just £9 with the most expensive £15.

Also adult tickets for the game start from just £12, all children’s tickets are priced £5 and a special family ticket, for two adults and two children in the upper tier of the new Carnegie Stand, costs £25.

The full ticket pricing structure for the Frontline Test Match is as follows:

North Stand upper tier, centre section seating

North Stand seating

Standing

Adult

£20

£15

£12

Concessions*

£12

£10

£8

Children (under 16)

£5

£5

£5

Adult Season Ticket price

£15

£10

£9

Concessions Season Ticket Price

£10

£8

£6

A special £25 family ticket will be available in the East Stand seating area, on production of a voucher, and is for two adults and two children.

For ticket information, please call the RFL Ticket Office on (0871) 226 1313.

The Great Britain Rugby League team are sponsored by Gillette.

Alker Back In Action for Reds

Tough tackling Reds’ captain Malcolm Alker is set to make his second comeback from injury in the Challenge Cup against Huddersfield Giants tonight (ko 8pm, The Willows).

Alker takes the place of cup-tied David Berthezene and will lead the Reds’ pack in which Michael Korkidas has also recovered from a knock.

The Reds are aiming to avenge last season’s Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of the Giants and have already beaten the Yorkshiremen once this season at the Galpharm Stadium

Challenge Cup Hits Salford

Wednesday 9 May sees the Carnegie Challenge Cup roll into Salford ahead of the figth round tie with the Huddersfield Giants next Friday at The Willows (8pm).

The Cup will be taken on a tour of several local schools, including Light Oaks Primary School – the winnwea of the Salford Primary School Festival Tournament, Pendleton College Rugby League Academy before being taken to a Salford Gifted and Talented Coaching session.

Prior to that it will have made the trip to the City of Salford council offices in Swinton and it will round the day off by coming back to The Willows for a photo opportunity for the fans betwen 4.30pm (approximately) and 7pm.

So that means this Wednesday you can come down to The Willows and have your photograph taken with the Carnegie Challenge Cup!

All you need to do is purchase your ticket for the Challenge Cup tie against Huddersfield Giants and we’ll snap you with the famous old trophy.

If the weather permits we’ll hopefully do it on the pitch, and if it’s pouring down we’ll do it inside.

So come along to Willows and get yor ticket in time to see the Reds on the Road to Wembley.

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