Salford RLFC: Phoenix club’s road to redemption as they race to contest 2026 season

One familiar face around the club is former captain Ryan Brierley, who cut short his playing career to become their chief executive.

Brierley departed midway through the 2025 season as part of a mass exodus of players as financial problems began to bite.

The club he joined, Oldham, are who Salford will face on their Championship return.

“It’s naturally the next step of my career. My retirement came a little sooner than expected but when an opportunity like this comes, I didn’t want to turn it down,” Brierley told BBC North West Tonight.

“A Salford boy who supports and wants to help the club, when you get offered a chance to help and stay at Salford, you certainly don’t say no.”

Although it is an immense achievement to get a squad together to contest the season, Brierley is under no illusions as to the situation the club are currently in as they find their feet after a 2025 to forget.

“What I want to make the fans understand is that it won’t always be nice, either. People always want honesty until they don’t. But for us it’s about managing expectations,” he added.

“We’re in a real vulnerable position but the realism from the fans has given me great confidence that I can be really open, honest, transparent and direct about how vulnerable we are right now.

“I’ve got to protect my players. I don’t like the situation I’m putting them in but needs must.”