Koukash: I will definitely get back in to rugby league
Former Salford owner Marwan Koukash says he will definitely be back in rugby league, but is waiting for the right opportunity.
The outspoken racehorse magnate left the Reds at the end of 2017, handing over ownership of the club to a trust and he then wrote off millions in directors’ loans to the club.
He has previously been linked with a takeover at Bradford, while he also held talks with Widnes prior to their administration earlier this season.
But he warned he won’t be used as a meal ticket for owners wanting to get out of jail.
Koukash said: “Rugby league is in my blood. Six or seven years ago I knew nothing about rugby league. I didn’t even know how many players were in a team.
“Marwan Koukash wants to get back in to rugby league, but I’m not going to be a meal ticket, to be used to get somebody out of jail.
“I will set up the right club, if I have to start from fresh, I will start from fresh. If I could take on another club without having to get the ex-owners out of jail, I’ll do that.
“I will definitely get back to rugby league.”
After talks with Widnes fell through, he along with local businessman Luke Backhouse revealed plans for a Liverpool team, and it is believed that they are still in the pipeline, with uncertainty over the league structure proving an obstacle.
In 2016, he announced plans to take an English team called the British Bulldogs to play in the NRL, while he also declared an interest in taking a Cumbria Lakers side to Super League.
His involvement with rugby league came following a chance meeting with then RFL chief executive Nigel Wood on a flight to Dubai.
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Koukash also revealed his pride at seeing former club Salford reach the Super League Grand Final.
He added: “I’m proud. I want people to know that just because I left Salford two years ago, my emotional attachment to the club has not ended.
“I invested millions and to see now Salford getting in to Grand Final I look back and see my money has not been wasted.
“A lot of people when I first came in to sport doubted me when I said one day Salford will win a Super League, get to a Grand Final, get to a Challenge Cup final. I knew all along Salford were going places.”