Flanagan signs new deal with Salford
VICE-CAPTAIN PLEDGES FUTURE TO CLUB
SALFORD vice-captain Mark Flanagan has signed a new deal with the club.
The former St Helens loose forward has been a key part of the Red Devils side over the last two seasons and has committed himself to the club until at least 2019.
Despite interest from elsewhere, Flanagan revealed he never had any intention of leaving the AJ Bell Stadium, especially after the strong start his side has made to the 2017 Betfred Super League campaign.
“I’m really looking forward to the next three years,” said the 29-yearold.
“We’ve shown at the start of this season we’ve got a quality side and we’re really starting to build something. “Staying was a no-brainer, really.” Head coach Ian Watson expressed his delight at securing the longterm future of one of the Red Devils’ key players.
“We’re really pleased that Mark has decided to continue his career with Salford,” he said. “His form would have attracted interest from elsewhere, but he’s a really important part of what we do, so it’s a really good re-signing for us.
“He is one of our main leaders. He’s uncompromising in defence and he’s a really good ball-playing loose forward.
“He’s part of the glue that holds this team together.”
Flanagan was born in Oldham, where his father Terry represented the club and Great Britain, but began his rugby career at Bradford Bulls.
Ex-Red Devils boss Brian Noble took him to Wigan, where he made his senior debut before moving to Australia with West Tigers under former Salford director of rugby Tim Sheens.
He returned to the UK in 2012 with Saints, before joining the Red Devils ahead of the 2016 season.
Salford CEO Ian Blease believes that experience has been invaluable in helping Flanagan develop into the player he is today and is benefitting the club as a whole.
“Mark brings the experience of winning things with him and with the team challenging at the top of the table, that is exactly what we need in the club as we look to achieve our goals.”
Meanwhile, Oldham have been hit by the news Kieran Gill will not be returning to the club from Castleford Tigers.
The young centre impressed on loan at Bower Fold earlier in the campaign, but suffered a seasonending injury after he was recalled to feature in the Tigers’ Super League fixture with St Helens at the weekend.
He scored a debut try, but suffered knee ligament damage in the second half, which will require surgery.