Q&A with Ian Blease

What areas has he identified that need to be the early focus for the Club?

How does it feel coming back to the Club after so many years?

Some really good questions so far. Anyone else?

I'll leave this thread open for the rest of the day before contacting Ian with these questions. Cheers.

Q1. What are your early thoughts and plans for increasing commercial revenue within the club? It would appear we have recently relied on existing contacts rather than going out and chasing sponsors by attending various networking events or even introducing the club direct to local businesses. Could we recreate the Salford Red Devils business club whereby people from various sectors (ie construction, media, local council etc) are invited for a networking event at the stadium?

Q2. Can we expect to see the club far more visible in the community now? Particularly improving links with local amateur RL clubs, schools and attending various community organised events such as Monton Festival, Irlam Live, Roe Green Bonfire etc?

Q3. The match-day experience in general needs improving, is this something that is on your radar? As a box holder there isn’t anything unique or professional about the experience that would make people other than existing supporters want to come back. Even in general compared to the likes of Warrington and Hull FC who seem to have cracked the art of making their games an event through pyrotechnics, light shows etc the AJ Bell is relatively dull.

Q4. Do you have any ideas with regards to experimenting with filling the East Stand that was closed for most of last season? I think we should be looking at engaging with local primary and secondary schools and challenging ourselves to assign one block per school (two schools) with a target of ensuring that every school in Salford attends at least one game at the AJ Bell next season. Nominal costs could be charged to the school to cover costs in exchange for training sessions for schools PE lessons etc.

Q5. Can the club go back to basics with engaging with existing fans? Whilst we need to work hard at bringing in new and lapsed its important existing supporters aren't forgotten. For example season ticket holders could be placed on special mailing list and hear about important club news first such as signings etc.

Can you try and find out what is the best (and most realistic) channel fans can use to contact the club with ideas? Too often attempts have been made only to be met by deafening silence.

How does it feel coming back to the Club after so many years?

Honestly & truthfully it's an absolutely amazing feeling, I'm so genuinely proud to be back at the club that I adore.



What is your exact remit within the Club?

Being the CEO its working with everyone associated with the club, (to name a few but not exhaustive) it's the fans, the foundation, schools, colleges and businesses. My main remit is to get back into the community and grow the clubs businesses and obviously ultimately be successful on the playing side working with the Coach and his team, otherwise we can't be successful off the pitch as much as I will demand.



What areas have you identified that need to be the early focus for the Club, and what are the longer-term objectives?

It's a tad too early to make any rash decisions yet at the start of my tenure. My immediate focus areas are as per the last question - longer term wouldn't it be nice to win something again! I'm a realist and know that's not easy but you did ask ........ No pressure Wotto!!!!



Will you be continuing as a player agent, and if so how will you use this to the clubs' benefit?

No; I've had to relinquish my duties at Signature Sport as there would be a conflict of interests and it's not allowed as per the RFL Operational rules, but knew that when I accepted. I'm a tad sad about that as I've built some amazing relationships with players over the years, but the owner of SSM Gary Lloyd is now taking over these players and they will be fine.



Will there be any kind of interaction with your opposite number at Sale Sharks, with a possible utilisation of duplicated facilities and outsourced resources?

Yes I'm keen on all relationship building for the club if it's a benefit, including Sale Sharks. I will look at all angles with them..... When I can get my head above the water and breathe !!!!!



Salford have been named (alongside Bradford, Sheffield & Oldham ) as one of a number of RL clubs being threatened with a winding-up petition for unpaid tax . HMRC . what guarantee can you make to the fans that such ' administrative lapses ( last one was July 2015 ) will be sorted, so in the future such negative stories don't allow an otherwise positive pre -season?

It wouldn't be right of me to talk about the past administration; I'm not that type of person to keep looking back. I'm simply focusing on our future, that includes doing everything right back office and I will work with our boss and Owner Marwan and the Financial Director to make sure we are not getting it wrong again. Every RL struggles with cash flow we have to accept that this is the business we are in. It's not football where some clubs are awash with cash so I'm keen we forecast right, work to set budgets and within complete all transactions our means. One thing I do know is that the cash cow days are over so we need to generate more income exploring all the options I've previously mentioned.



What are your early thoughts and plans for increasing commercial revenue within the club? It would appear we have recently relied on existing contacts rather than going out and chasing sponsors by attending various networking events or even introducing the club direct to local businesses. Could we recreate the Salford Red Devils Business Club whereby people from various sectors (i.e. construction, media, local council etc) are invited for a networking event at the stadium?

As previous really. I am aiming to explore all avenues for commercial activity. This will be a strategy that I will define over the next month or so and I will set out for our back office to achieve. Its no longer acceptable to not work hard at this club, and we need all our staff and colleagues to step up and assist us in achieving our goals if this club is going to survive in SL and prosper longer term.



Can we expect to see the club far more visible in the community now? Particularly improving links with local amateur RL clubs, schools and attending various community organised events such as Monton Festival, Irlam Live, Roe Green Bonfire etc?

Yes I've had discussions with Marwan about how I believe we have 'lost the community' around the club one of my main goals is to bring that back! Working closely with our foundation. One thing we need to look at and improve is our community activity also involving the players from the onset.



Are there any plans to experiment with filling the East Stand that was closed for most of last season? For example, is there a possibility of filling it with kids from local Primary and Secondary schools?

Yes it's something I want to do, and I will look at the logistics of this.



With the recent news of the Club disbanding the Academy Team and the club not issuing a formal statement, can you shed any light on the rationale behind this? Was it a financial decision (i.e. the focus now being shifted to the first team squad to ensure consistency of performances)? Also, is there any truth in the rumours of a possible regional Academy; sharing a talent pool and resources with other RL teams in Greater Manchester?

Yes totally financial; as I've stated earlier in my replies we need to control spend and the cash is not a bottomless pit from our Owner, we will look at all options for dual Academy and even Reserve A Grade set-up but that will take time and I ask for patience on this please now, as everything from now on needs to be right for our club. We do now need to really concentrate all our efforts on the first team and I will be assisting Ian Watson in delivering this. I want us to be more professional if we can, embed the history of our club in its culture and thus ensuring existing and new players want to really play that Salford shirt so we can bring success to the club again. I won't accept anything less.



At the fans’ Q&A, the Club announced the news about Salford deciding to end the U19’s Academy. It was implied that the club was looking at the possibility of fielding a U23’s side for the 2017 season, inviting back some of the development players. Has the Club come to a final decision on this?

As above really this question


Has there been any further news/development following the crowd trouble after the game at Hull KR on October 1st ?

No not yet.


How does the club plan to engage with new and existing fans?

It will part of our strategy that will be developed as per previous answer.


What plans have the new board got to re-acquaint themselves with the Clubs' supporters associations (such as Forever Reds), which has been 'cold' in the past 3 seasons?

Again as above we will look at options for the club but any activity we do must bring deliverables and outcomes and not lose money for the club!!!



What is the best and most realistic channel which fans can use to contact the club with ideas? 
We need some form of better communication with our fans, we will be looking at that for the future and I know the Owner is very keen on our engagement with fans and his we can improve this. It has not been the best in the past and again I ask that we work together as a club and when we can we will communicate in what we are aiming to achieve and I will look to the fans to help us in this. We will be stronger together and there are some huge challenges ahead we need to all work through, but one thing I do know is we need more fans coming to watch and we need to get that experience better for them do they keep coming back ! That's a big challenge for all SL clubs not just ours.

Good set of questions, all sounds good.

Just hope it's not another false dawn and the Doc gives him the space and freedom he needs to work.