RL TO RETURN
BUT SALFORD CHIEF HAS CASH WARNING
THE Betfred Super League will return with a triple header of fixtures staged behind closed doors on August 2 and broadcast live on Sky Sports, featuring Hull KR v Toronto Wolfpack, St Helens v Catalans Dragons and Huddersfield Giants v Leeds Rhinos.
Those are fixtures that were postponed prior to the coronavirus-enforced shutdown of the sport, but Salford Red Devils and the rest of the teams will return to action on the weekend of August 8/9 with a full round of fixtures.
It will mark the start of a shortened season of 15 rounds on top of what has already been played.
The play-offs will then comprise only the league’s top four teams, who will compete semifinals before a Grand Final scheduled for the end of November.
Clubs have also agreed that the 2021 season will begin later than the traditional early February slot because of the extension of the current campaign.
The full revised fixture list has not been revealed and initially, all matches will take place behind closed doors at a small number of approved neutral stadiums, which are yet to be announced.
“We are in the final stages of confirming where the games will be played, and we continue to work closely with Sky Sports to deliver the best possible broadcast schedule for our fans,” said Super League chairman Robert Elstone.
“Above all we know that fans want to get back into grounds to support their teams.
“We will continue to follow government advice and work alongside the RFL, clinical advisors and ground safety personnel to ensure that when that time comes, Super League is ready to welcome back its fans at the first opportunity.”
When teams return to action on August 2, it will be 140 days since the last Super League fixtures took place and clubs have been shorn of their regular income streams since that date.
Salford Red Devils director Paul King issued a frank update to supporters detailing just what returning to action behind closed doors could mean.
Players will be taken off the government’s furlough scheme in order to complete a ‘mini preseason’ ahead of the resumption, but at that point the club will be required to again pay their salaries, yet without the ability to raise income through the turnstiles.
In addition, clubs will be facing bills for PPE, testing and the regular deep cleaning of facilities - which King says will total the equivalent of a player’s salary for a season.
“Our capacity to make up this difference in budget will also be significantly hampered,” he explained.
“The clearest example of this is through the immediate loss of matchday revenue opportunities, but the pandemic’s impact on the wider business community will also limit potential to engage sponsors for next season.
“It is therefore essential that those of us who are already behind the club continue to be.
“I hope that is through physically supporting the team from the stands for as many of the remaining fixtures as possible, but we must face the reality that it is unlikely to be an option for some time.
“Failing this, we hope that all of you season ticket holders will still be able to enjoy the matches you expected to on television, or through streaming services and we are working hard to achieve this free of charge.
“I must ask though, that everyone continues to honour their commitment to the club, if at all possible, for this season and, in return, we will look to provide the best that we possibly can for our loyal supporters.
“With new financial burdens placed upon us, we cannot possibly take on further unanticipated economic losses.
“This would undo the hard work we have done to build in recent seasons and have a disastrous impact on our future both on and off the field.”