Former Salford Red Devils winger Mason Caton-Brown is leading a consortium working to save the liquidated club.
The 152-year-old club’s existence came to an end after a one-minute hearing relating to an unpaid tax bill due to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs on Wednesday morning.
But there are hopes a ‘phoenix’ club could be formed in time to fulfil the old club’s fixtures in next season’s second-tier Championship, with Caton-Brown leading one of the interested consortia.
The 32-year-old rugby league player turned businessman is at the forefront of a new consortium operating under the name ‘The Phoenix Bid.’
The consortium said they are set to submit a formal application to the Rugby Football League (RFL) to operate a newly reformed Salford-based professional rugby league club, playing from the CorpAcq stadium.
Malcolm Crompton, former chairman of the Forever Reds Supporters Trust and a long-standing club advocate, Paul Hancock, a businessman, sponsor, and long-term season ticket holder with extensive local connections, and Ashley Washington local tech entrepreneur and lifelong fan are also involved in the prospective ownership group.
A spokesperson for The Phoenix Bid consortium said: “United under the mantra, ‘Rise Again Together’, the bid represents a determined effort to preserve more than 150 years of rugby league heritage in the city and to ensure the sport remains a central part of Salford’s identity and community life.
“The submission comes after weeks of intensive preparation by the group, ahead of awaiting the outcome of recent legal proceedings that resulted in the winding-up of the previous club.
“Together, they bring business expertise, sporting knowledge and a lifelong passion for Salford Rugby League. Their shared vision is to rebuild on firm foundations of transparency and community engagement.
“The consortium has already secured a significant six-figure investment, guaranteed annually for at least the next three years. With a team of experienced advisors in place, a kit supplier, sponsorship agreement confirmed and a comprehensive recruitment plan ready to activate immediately once a license is granted by the RFL.
“The bid is ready to gain momentum and is also working on bringing in a high-profile CEO who understands the club and its community.
“Positive discussions have also been held with Salford City Council, including an agreement in principle for the continued use of the CorpAcq stadium.”
Caton-Brown said: “This isn’t just about rebuilding a club, it’s about rebuilding belief,” said Caton-Brown. “Salford means everything to me as a club and is part of my story. We want to create something the city can be proud of again; a club that stands for honesty, sustainability, and genuine community connection.”
Both the Salford RLFC Supporters Trust (Forever Reds) and the Salford Red Devils Foundation have formally endorsed the consortium’s application, signalling strong support across the fanbase.
A spokesperson for the Trust described the Phoenix Bid as “a powerful and credible team with the best interests of supporters and rugby league at heart.”
The Trust also highlighted Salford’s potential as “a sleeping giant”, with its strong identity, proximity to Manchester, and opportunity to grow both its fanbase and community impact under the right leadership.
“We’re inviting the people of Salford to stand with us,” added Caton-Brown. “Together we can rise again, not just to bring rugby league back to this city, but to make sure it thrives for generations to come.”
The consortium said it would work to retain as many former club employees as possible if they were given the green light to rebuild Salford Red Devils.
But yesterday, former Salford Red Devils CEO Chris Irwin said he was working with a different consortium to salvage the liquidated club.
Chris Irwin was appointed as Salford Red Devils CEO in February after a consortium led by Swiss businessman Dario Berta took over the club.
He resigned in May with the club rooted to the bottom of the Super League table, beset by problems and in the midst of a growing player exodus.
Irwin said he has been working in the background to create a realistic and sustainable business plan to take the fabric of our beloved club and start again, but his syndicate will have to fend off interest from Caton-Brown’s consortium if they are to lead the rebuild.
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