Latest news with #CurtizBrown
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
‘Never watching this nonsense again' rant fans as major league confirms two-team expansion for 2026 season
SUPER LEAGUE clubs have brought forward the expansion to 14 clubs to next season. It was expected the addition of two more sides would not come until 2027, to tie in with the next broadcasting deal. 2 The Super League will expand to 14 teams for the 2026 season Credit: PA 2 Two teams will be selected by an independent panel Credit: Getty But at a meeting of top flight sides in Leeds today, the majority voted to expand for 2026. It has angered fans, who reacted: "I'm never watching this nonsense again." Another said: "The death has started." But other disagreed, commenting: "Finally! About time. This should have happened years ago." READ MORE IN SPORT IMG's grading system will decide 12 of the clubs who will make up the larger competition, which will see the end of despised loop fixtures and keeping the 13 home matches. However, two teams others will be chosen by an independent panel. This means those from outside the top 14 can be picked if they do not make the 12, so the prospect of Toulouse Olympique being overlooked is open. And with Salford set to still be relegated despite the expansion, there is the prospect of three clubs, including Bradford, coming up. Most read in Rugby League BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK If the Red Devils do stay in, that will mean a miraculous escape after months of chaos under the shambolic ownership of Sire Kailahi and Curtiz Brown. However, a Bulls' return would spark many complaints given the link with new Rugby League Commercial chair Nigel Wood, who headed the "club-led strategic review". Until March, he was chairman at Odsal – the condition of which, with one seated and covered stand - is another source of anger among supporters. And a raising of the overseas quota rules, allowing teams to have ten foreign players from 2026, has raised fears of a dilution of talent across 14 teams. London Broncos, currently 10th in the Championship and Oldham, only promoted from League One last year, are also keen on a place at the top table. A 'This would be done by combining the club grading system introduced to determine Super League membership as part of the sport's long-term strategic partnership with IMG in 2022, with an independent panel to be chaired by Lord Jonathan Caine. 'The top 12 clubs under grading at the conclusion of the 2025 domestic season will therefore be joined by two clubs recommended by that panel – provided the panel judges there are two applications of sufficient merit against the set criteria. 'The Super League clubs have the right to determine the number of the clubs in the competition. 'The possibility of immediate expansion to 14 clubs was one of a number of options put to a meeting of the existing 12 clubs.'
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
‘Never watching this nonsense again' rant fans as major league confirms two-team expansion for 2026 season
SUPER LEAGUE clubs have brought forward the expansion to 14 clubs to next season. It was expected the addition of two more sides would not come until 2027, to tie in with the next broadcasting deal. 2 But at a meeting of top flight sides in Leeds today, the majority voted to expand for 2026. It has angered fans, who reacted: "I'm never watching this nonsense again." Another said: "The death has started." But other disagreed, commenting: "Finally! About time. This should have happened years ago." IMG's grading system will decide 12 of the clubs who will make up the larger competition, which will see the end of despised loop fixtures and keeping the 13 home matches. However, two teams others will be chosen by an independent panel. This means those from outside the top 14 can be picked if they do not make the 12, so the prospect of Toulouse Olympique being overlooked is open. And with Salford set to still be relegated despite the expansion, there is the prospect of three clubs, including Bradford, coming up. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK If the Red Devils do stay in, that will mean a miraculous escape after months of chaos under the shambolic ownership of Sire Kailahi and Curtiz Brown. However, a Bulls' return would spark many complaints given the link with new Rugby League Commercial chair Nigel Wood, who headed the "club-led strategic review". Until March, he was chairman at Odsal – the condition of which, with one seated and covered stand - is another source of anger among supporters. And a raising of the overseas quota rules, allowing teams to have ten foreign players from 2026, has raised fears of a dilution of talent across 14 teams. London Broncos, currently 10th in the Championship and Oldham, only promoted from League One last year, are also keen on a place at the top table. A Super League statement said: 'The 12 existing Super League clubs have voted to extend the competition to 14 teams for the 2026 season, subject to conditions. 'This would be done by combining the club grading system introduced to determine Super League membership as part of the sport's long-term strategic partnership with IMG in 2022, with an independent panel to be chaired by Lord Jonathan Caine. 'The top 12 clubs under grading at the conclusion of the 2025 domestic season will therefore be joined by two clubs recommended by that panel – provided the panel judges there are two applications of sufficient merit against the set criteria. 'The Super League clubs have the right to determine the number of the clubs in the competition. 'The possibility of immediate expansion to 14 clubs was one of a number of options put to a meeting of the existing 12 clubs.'
The Sun
17-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Salford battle to get deal with Warrington for Sam Stone after ‘downing tools'
SALFORD are battling to not lose Sam Stone to Warrington for nothing. SunSport understands the back rower is claiming he resigned from the Red Devils and should be a free agent after refusing to play. 2 The Wolves are close to completing a swoop for the Australian, with angered boss Paul Rowley claiming talks have been ongoing since pre-season. Now it is believed that rather than a transfer fee, Super League's basement boys are trying to negotiate a move that will see one or more players move in the opposite direction for the test of the campaign. That would reduce the wage bill even more as salaries are taken care of by the parent club but would still give the coach options to select from. Stone's imminent departure would make it eight top stars to have departed since Sire Kailahi and Curtiz Brown took ownership of Salford. And Rowley fumed: 'On Saturday, he downed tools. 'I'm fully understanding of everyone's position, thresholds and tolerance but that situation really put us in a bit of strife. 'The manner of it's not good. There's a way of doing things and that's not the way. If you make a decision that hurts your team-mates then it's not a good decision. 'Sam's been talking to another club since pre-season, so now he's fit I guess that move can start to take shape.' While Stone, 27, is next to leave, SunSport understands Kailahi and Brown claim as many as seven players may be coming in, if finance comes good. 2 So far, their ownership has been a disaster and Rowley has been forced to blood kids, with painter and decorator Sam Hill scoring a try against St Helens on Sunday. And until money is in the bank account, he can only dream as he added: 'Until it's tangible and real, you're wasting your energy trying to make up a team of make believe players. 'I just crack on with the lads we've got.'
The Sun
11-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Former Salford chief, whose house is on the line, returns in bid to save club
SALFORD'S former boss has returned as he looks to save the club – and his house. Paul King left after the Red Devils were taken over by Sire Kailahi and Curtiz Brown. 1 But after it turned into a disaster, with administration or a winding up order looming, he has come back to try and make sure it survives. Any sale or saving of the club would also in turn save his home, which he has put up as a guarantee against loans taken out both last year and this. Now SunSport can reveal they are said to owe payday loan firms a staggering £1.1 million, with £900,000 alone to Oldham-based WeDo Finance. On top of that, HMRC are £500,000 short – which is most likely to see action – and the Rugby Football League a similar sum. Then there are operating costs as well, pushing the total to somewhere between £2.5 million and £3 million. SunSport has learned two parties are interested in Salford, NRL side Sydney Roosters and one UK-based group. However, it is thought the Australians' bid depends on whether the stadium is involved and the competition Down Under buys into Super League. Officially, Kailahi and Brown are still working towards a stadium and land deal, which would finance their 'Salford project.' However, the city's council, which currently owns it, is said to have set a deadline after seeing the mess they have made of the club, with the man they brought in to run it, chief executive Chris Irwin, sacked. Meanwhile, the Rugby Football League has put up a wall of silence around how Kailahi and Brown passed the fit and proper persons' test. Several questions were put to the governing body but it insisted it would not comment as, 'the view is details of process are confidential.'
