Lions part company with club favourites
SWINTON have confirmed that forward Josh Barlow and assistant coach Tommy Gallacher have left the club.
Barlow has been a mainstay of the Lions pack since arriving at the club in 2014, but his combative style of play often resulted in disciplinary trouble.
Gallacher was part of the Swinton side that won promotion to the Betfred Championship in 2015, but retired at the end of that successful campaign.
He rejoined the club as an assistant to Stuart Littler ahead of the 2018 season and when the Lions found themselves in the midst of an injury crisis mid-way through the season, laced up his boots once more, making three appearances.
“Tommy is a personal friend and will continue to be a good friend,” said Littler. “Circumstances change in rugby league, as in life, and I personally wish Tommy all the best with his coaching and will always be available to him if he needs me.”
Lions chairman Andy Mazey added: “On behalf of the board I would like to thank Tommy for his efforts and wish him and his family well for the future.
“Tommy came to the club at a difficult time for the club as we began rebuilding this time last year.
“Tommy came to coach, but at a point when we struggled for numbers and experience in the middle in a difficult year he put his hand up and registered as a player and I will never forget that. He will always be made welcome here at Swinton and leaves the club on great terms with our upmost respect and thanks.” SALFORD have formalised an official partnership with Hopwood Hall College. The Red Devils conducted a day of training at the Rochdale-based institution earlier this week, something they have done on several occasions over the past year. And now the club hopes the relationship will help to develop young talent across the region, providing a pathway towards Salford’s category three academy. Red Devils head coach Ian Watson said: “This is a massive step in the right direction for the club in our aim to produce players as a community club. “It’s time we begin to get more of local young players coming through our system with the future aims of the club to have a complete pathway from school, community club, academies through to the first team at Salford Red Devils.
“This is putting us on the right path to begin this process. The fact we can introduce young players from Hopwood Hall College and Salford Red Devils category three academy into first-team environments to aid and assist their development is brilliant.
“These lads are getting rewarded by spending time in and around an environment which allows them to experience life as a professional Betfred Super League player.
“The partnership has been greatly assisted via Matt Calland who I have had a relationship with at Halifax, Rochdale and Wales.
“They have first-class facilities at Hopwood Hall and with Matt at the helm we know that these lads are being coached to a high standard.”
The Red Devils’ director of rugby and operations, former captain Ian Blease, revealed the partnership is part of the club’s five-year plan to develop young talents across the local area.
“Salford Red Devils and Hopwood Hall College are aiming to create a career pathway for rugby talent,” he said. “Hopwood Hall College captures some of the hottest talent in the Rochdale and Oldham areas and we have now put the club in a position to access that talent.
“We are also in the process of developing further partnerships for other regions in Manchester and this will only enhance our youth development and rugby strategy.
“I will continue to push to make this club stronger in its youth development, scouting, and ultimately, recruitment of local players back into the first team.
“Promoting local talent has to be a huge focus of the club going forward and it’s something myself and head coach Ian Watson are extremely committed to.”
Kris Robinson, centre director for sport and public services at Hopwood Hall College, added: “Having a working partnership with a Super League club the size of Salford Red Devils is a tantalising prospect for Hopwood Hall College.
“Our learners will regularly get the opportunity to train alongside Salford’s players and coaching staff, the club will have an ideal pipeline for the rugby talent ID of young sportsmen from our college.”
He will always be made welcome here at Swinton Andy Mazey on Tommy Gallacher