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Sam Ridgway - 22nd March 2020

News

RFL give the go-ahead for a new Salford rugby league team

Danny Jones New Salford rugby league Championship team in 2026

The Rugby Football League (RFL) have given the go-ahead for a new Salford rugby league team in the New Year.

Rejoice, Salfordians – the Red Devils as you know them might be done, but it looks like a Phoenix is rising very soon.

This news comes after Salford Red Devils were sadly liquidated at the start of December, winding up the club after 152 years.

However, following a consortium bid led by a former player, it now looks as though the local community will be starting a new sporting era in 2026. You can read the RFL’s statement in full down below.

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As you can see, the English governing body has agreed to grant the new Salford-based rugby league team Championship status in time for the start of next season.

The Red Devils were officially relegated back in October, following months of uncertainty surrounding their unpaid debts and having to rely on loan players to field squads.

It’s unclear whether the new Salford side will carry on under the well-established brand and logo, or whether they fresh start will include a new Greater Manchester moniker.

There is, of course, an obvious choice as retired winger Mason Caton-Brown has been confirmed as one of at least three key investors following his ‘Phoenix Bid’ to resurrect the club earlier this month.

Following the official announcement on Monday (22 Dec), fan group The 1873 have now expressed their gratitude and support regarding the new investment, adding: “The strength of this club has always been its people and that must remain true in this new chapter.”

We would like to congratulate The Phoenix Bid on being awarded RFL membership and becoming custodians of Salford Rugby League 👏

Fans must fully back the new board as we move into 2026. We have a responsibility to ensure that this is as successful as it can be. pic.twitter.com/BZEwzS0zC6
— The 1873 (@The1873_) December 22, 2025

Caton-Brown had already insisted that the new leadership group had reached multiple pre-contract agreements with players and a new head coach.

While it’s obviously a big result to be gearing up just a few weeks after seemingly folding as a competitive side, the owners are now racing to get a full squad ready to face Oldham in their season opener on 16 January.

Meanwhile, ex-Salford Red Devils stars Paul Rowley and Adam Sidlow have now joined the coaching staff at St Helens.

Happy, Salfordians?

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Featured Images — Anthony Parkes (via Geograph)/Publicity picture (supplied)

News

Two men jailed after series of Porsche thefts across Greater Manchester totalling £1m

Emily Sergeant

Two men have been handed prison sentences following a series of Porsche thefts across Greater Manchester.

An investigation into the actions of Eidmantas Sadauskas and Vytautas Ceponis, both of no fixed abode, by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) began back in January of this year.

Described as being ‘sophisticated’ operation, the pair used equipment and tools to disable the vehicle security alarms and gain access to them, before they would then clone the vehicles, using different registration plates to allow them to slip under the radar.

In total, 25 Porsches – estimated, in total, as being approximately £1 million – were linked to the theft series and identified as having been taken by Sadauskas and Ceponis.

The thefts occurred across Greater Manchester – including in Salford, Bury, Trafford, Manchester, and Stockport – and it’s believed they were being stolen to be sold on for illegal gain.

The thefts occurred between January and October 2025, according to police, before the investigation began.

A comprehensive investigation Stockport’s Neighbourhood Crime Team (NCT) found that Sadauskas and Ceponis were mapped out as being in the areas of the crimes as they occurred, and the vehicles involved in the thefts were additionally identified as being linked to them.

The pair subsequently pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal motor vehicles at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court in late November, before their sentencing last Friday.

Ceponis was jailed for four years for conspiring to steal motor vehicles, while Sadauskas was jailed for four-and-a-half years for conspiring to steal motor vehicles.

Several of the Porsches have since been recovered, and police say work remains ongoing to locate the outstanding vehicles and reunite them with their owners.

“No one should have their property taken from them,” commented PC Chris Hopkins, from GMP’s Stockport NCT. “As officers in the Neighourhood Crime Team, we work proactively to tackle these sorts of offences and punish those responsible.

“We have recovered several of the stolen vehicles and will continue to do so while Sadauskas and Ceponis are behind bars.”

Featured Image – GMP