BY JOHN DAVIDSON
Salford RLFC and Featherstone Rovers will receive no central distribution from the RFL in the merged Championship next year.
New club Salford RLFC, taking the license over from the collapsed Salford Red Devils, will open the season at home against Oldham on January 16, while Featherstone will be away to Batley on January 18.
But as both went into administration because of financial issues this December, both have been stripped of their central funding and will get no money from the governing body in 2026, rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads understands.
Salford RFLC were initially expected to receive £150,000 in funding, after being ranked 15th in the IMG gradings in October, with Rovers ranked 17th and expected to receive a similar amount. But the former holders of the Salford license were liquidated in early December, with a new group led by Mason Caton-Brown handed the license.
Featherstone went into administration on December 15 and one group has bid to take over the RFL license. Former Rovers owner Mark Campbell, as well as Colm Corran and Chris Hamilton, have been linked as part of that group.
A week ago Andrew Rosler, the appointed administrator of Featherstone, posted this statement: “Further to the previous statement providing a deadline of 4pm today, I can confirm that there has been one submission to the RFL in respect of Featherstone Rovers RLFC as at the expiry of the deadline. The interested party and Ideal Corporate Solutions will continue to work alongside the RFL to secure a swift conclusion of the assessment process.”
It is believed RFL has yet to make a decision on the future of the Featherstone license. It is unclear when the RFL board will meet to decide.
