OLD DEVIL WATSON IS BANKING ON SPIRIT

IAN WATSON grew up in Salford, pulled on the club’s shirt and now takes the Red Devils to Old Trafford to try to make history.

Not since the glory days of the 1970s, when stars like Keith Fielding and David Watkins made the Willows a hot Fridaynight ticket, have Salford finished champions of rugby league’s elite.

But Watson, having fashioned a side that plays to its strengths around half-back Jackson Hastings (left), is now one of the game’s top coaches.

This autumn he will assist Wayne Bennett for Great

Britain. He was also extensively discussed by St Helens when they sought to replace the outgoing Justin Holbrook.

But Watson (right) remains unchanged from the part-time player who steered several different clubs around the field from scrum-half. He said: “I’m probably favourite to be the first coach out every year.

“I don’t have social media and that’s because I learned as a player that one week you’re great, the next you’re rubbish. I know if I’m doing a good job.

“I’m from Winton. My wife used to live around the corner from the Willows and I’d stay there – I had the smallest expenses in the club’s history. It’s been a great journey from where we were to now.

“But being here isn’t about messing about, taking pictures and looking at the stadium. We are here to win, to do a job.

“Our budget is the lowest – 100 per cent. We’re miles behind financially, but in spirit and endeavour we’re well up there.”

And that might yet take them to Old Trafford glory.