Salford boss Paul Rowley admits takeover would prevent ‘punch to the head’

PAUL Rowley admits he has been like Salford’s version of a truth commission as he looks to roll the takeover blows.

SunSport understands part one of a move is likely to go through this week, possibly in a matter of hours.

It is believed the arrangement for the club may be completed by the time they face Midlands Hurricanes in the Challenge Cup on Sunday.

That would avoid the almost knockout punch of having to ship out players as a fire sale hangs over them after being ordered to cut £800,000 from their budget.

Boss Rowley insisted: "What I’ve tried to do is keep a healthy distance from it but close enough to it to reassure and separate fact from fiction for the people that matter – my players.

“The club’s never missed a wage payment, it’s always fulfilled its obligation. Then through whatever channels, normally me, it’s always been honest.

“The players haven’t asked an awful lot of questions because I’ve given the information I’ve got when it’s been appropriate.

“I’ve taken it as a huge compliment that they’ve trusted and believed me. If I can’t give them certainty, I’ve delivered them that message too.

“Until I’ve got something solid and factual, I don’t share any information. It’s as simple as that but what if it doesn’t happen has run through my head.

“Building a team doesn’t scare me, I’ve done it before but losing the relationships we’ve built, the characters we’ve got, would be absolutely heartbreaking.

“It would be a punch to the head that would be really hard to recover from.”

As things stand, Rowley can only field a combined £1.2 million worth of wages as the cup tie is the first match which counts on the salary cap.

And the vultures are still circling, ready to pick off as many as seven players should Salford have to invoke the fire sale, which they have so far resisted as the takeover talks go on.

“As it stands, the facts are we’re at £1.2 million,” Rowley added. “We might need a few pence more.”