Salford Red Devils have today announced the launch of ‘Reds Rise Together’, a community share offer scheme that will see the club transition wholly into the first Super League club to become truly and legally community owned.
A Salford statement read: "We know that sports clubs are really owned by their communities of fans who care about them, but now we’re linking up that moral ownership with real, tangible, legal ownership.
"Reds Rise Together is a community share offer which allows an individual to purchase a share in the club’s holding company - now a Community Benefit Society (CBS) – entitling them to a vote and eligibility to stand for election to the CBS board. Along with a host of other benefits, the overriding benefit is a collective one, meaning that together, we can take better control over the future of our club and continue to add meaningful value to our communities."
Commenting on the scheme, Salford Red Devils Managing Director, Paul King, added: “This year we’re celebrating 150 years of a club at the heart of its community. Now we’re growing that community, as well as placing it at the heart of the club.
“The game has changed. IMG are in the business and with that comes a forward-thinking approach to how we move forward.
“For years, whenever we’ve been close to something, we have had to sell our best players. This year we opted to change that. Now by doing this, it allows to maintain a competitive playing squad and gives us a real chance to win the biggest prizes in the game.
“We have a fundamental belief that sport belongs to the people - not a sole person; and by doing this we’re creating the opportunity for such likeminded individuals to join us and do something really special.”
Hunslet, currently in Betfred League One, blazed a trail for fan ownership back in professional Rugby League back in 2012 when they become wholly supporter owned. They are proud to be currently the only supporter owned professional Club in the Northern Hemisphere.
To get involved in the scheme or for further information, please click here.
