Koukash not happy with Salford’s stadium

Correspondent

Salford owner Dr Marwan Koukash is very unhappy about issues relating to the club’s home ground, the AJ Bell Stadium.

In addition to the location of the ground, which he sees as a deterrent to attracting fans, he is also unhappy about the catering and other facilities at the AJ Bell.

He continues to be frustrated with the lack of decent transport links, and at how the club cannot generate more income on matchdays, due to the agreements in place regarding catering and other facilities.

Salford Red Devils cannot and will not grow as a club purely because of where the AJ Bell Stadium is located,” Koukash wrote in his column for the Manchester Evening News.

“The stadium itself is absolutely fantastic but where it is sited is poor and not allowing me to grow and develop the club how I want and plan to.

“It is true to stay we have the worst stadium agreement in the entire country. Our hands are tied by it.

“Rival clubs can generate income from drinks, meals and money spent in the club shop. In some cases, that can mean making £30,000 plus but we cannot do that at Salford.

“I was however put in a tough position of having to sign the stadium agreement there and then when I took over. If I had not adhered to this, there would not have been a club to support.

“Our last home game in Super League against Wakefield Trinity produced the lowest crowd (less than 3,000) since I took over.

“We lost tens of thousands of pounds on this particular game and that is a concern.

“Our matchday income is far lower than any other Super League club.

“Our hands are tied though because of the agreement we have with the stadium company. Wakefield for instance have a double figure income just from drink and food.

“What annoys and frustrates me more than anything else is the fact that out loyal fans cannot complain to me if they have any issues or complaints that need attending to.

“They have to go direct to the stadium company.

“I was told and assured that a link road to the stadium would also be fully operational by 2014 but here we are still waiting developments.”