SALFORD are staying at the AJ Bell Stadium after the city’s council stepped in to stop Sale Sharks RU and Salford City buying it.
The Red Devils were looking at switching to the League Two football club’s Moor Lane for 2024 while their current ground mates take on their base and move the Ammies in.
But a joint venture approach has been rejected and the council is now buying out development firm Peel from the current ownership company to take sole control.
That means the rugby league club is set to stay put for at least the next five years, with talks over a new lease expected.
Salford City, whose current home is not good enough for the Championship – where it is aiming for, did not hide its disappointment.
They said: “This news came as a surprise to us.”
Sale chief executive Sid Sutton added: “We will continue to have a long-term home at our stadium.
“We were clear that we wouldn’t proceed with any course of action until Salford Red Devils have secured a place to play.
“Salford City Council’s proposed agreement will enable this to happen while ensuring that the stadium remains the home of Sale Sharks.”
Castleford have also finally submitted £12.2 million plans to redevelop their crumbling Wheldon Road stadium as rugby league’s focus turns off the field as much as on it.
But Matt Dwyer, the man behind IMG’s ‘re-imagining’ of rugby league and its grading system – which guarantees A clubs a top flight place from 2025, said: “In the past, things were based very much on business plans – planned things, not actuals.
“People weren’t necessarily sticking to them. We’re looking at it from a perspective of, ‘What have you actually done?’”
