Salford Red Devils Rugby League Club has confirmed a change in ownership under a full 100% purchase of the club, by a consortium led by Swiss businessman Dario Berta, CEO of Matanel, “an investment bank that specialises in real estate investment.”
The Super League club has also confirmed that the deal has been approved by the Community Benefit Society (CBS) and by Salford City Council, which owns the Salford Community Stadium, although it is still subject to final RFL approval.
Former player Chris Irwin is to return as club’s new chief executive, having left his commercial role at the club in 2024 to join Exeter City Football Club.
In an open letter published on the club’s website over the weekend, Irwin said the club’s new owners “have cleared all current club debt, and we have started the process to recruit a new internal management structure, which will be led by recruitment industry experts KinseySears, who were responsible for many of the senior team hires for the successful Rugby League World Cup 2021.”
Salford Mayor Paul Dennett said: “I’m very happy to welcome Dario Berta to Salford and look forward to working closely together to see an exciting future for Salford Red Devils, building on the successes of the last five years.”
Berta’s UK business Matanel was formed in April of 2024 and is currently late filing accounts, which were due on January 19, 2025. No further details have thus far been released about other members of the consortium.
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Berta commented: “I’d like to express my gratitude to Paul King and the existing team within the CBS who have led the club in recent years from celebrating its 150th anniversary, a Betfred Super League Grand Final and Challenge Cup Final, as well as navigating the club through tricky periods such as COVID.
“This is the start of a very bright and successful future for Salford Red Devils. I’m very proud to be involved, and with Chris at the helm, I feel like we have the perfect opportunity to build something special. Our focus and dedication now is to work together with stakeholders and fans to build sustainable success on and off the pitch for the long term.”
