Rugby league club Salford Red Devils have announced plans to become wholly owned by their fans.
The side said the move would mean they would be the first 'community-owned elite rugby league club' in the northern hemisphere.
The 'Reds Rise Together' share offer will allow individuals to purchase a share in the club’s holding company – now a Community Benefit Society (CBS) – entitling them to a vote and eligibility to stand for election to the CBS board.
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Salford Red Devils can trace their roots back to 1873 and have won six championships and one Challenge Cup over that time.
Since 2012 they have played their home games at the AJ Bell Stadium and share the ground with rugby union club Sale Sharks.
The club have been run by a consortium of fans since they completed a takeover from Marwan Koukash in 2018.
The deal saw ownership pass to the consortium of long-standing supporters of the club: Andrew Rosler, owner of Ideal Corporate Solutions Limited, Asif Latief, marketing director at A-Plant, Hannah Fendall, senior associate at Williamson & Croft LLP, and Dawn Fidler, founder and CEO of The Joshua Wilson Brain Tumour Charity.
Mr Koukash, a Palestine-born racehorse owner, rescued the club from potential collapse in 2013 and became an outspoken figure within rugby league.
Managing director Paul King said: "This year we’re celebrating 150 years of a club at the heart of its community.
"Now we’re growing that community, as well as placing it at the heart of the club.
"The game has changed. IMG are in the business and with that comes a forward-thinking approach to how we move forward.
"For years, whenever we’ve been close to something, we have had to sell our best players.
"This year we opted to change that. Now by doing this, it allows to maintain a competitive playing squad and gives us a real chance to win the biggest prizes in the game.
"We have a fundamental belief that sport belongs to the people – not a sole person; and by doing this we’re creating the opportunity for such likeminded individuals to join us and do something really special."
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