Salford RLFC: Phoenix FC’s road to redemption as they race for the 2026 season

One familiar face at the club is former captain Ryan Brearley, who cut short his playing career to become the club’s chief executive.

Brearley left midway through the 2025 season as part of a mass exodus of players as financial problems began.

The club he joined, Oldham, are who Salford will face in their return to the Championship.

“It’s obviously the next step in my career,” Brierley told BBC North West Tonight. “My retirement came a little sooner than expected, but when an opportunity like this comes along, I didn’t want to turn it down.”

“A Salford lad who supports the club and wants to help, when you are offered the chance to help and stay at Salford, you certainly don’t say no.”

Although it is a massive achievement to get a team together to play the season, Brierley is under no illusions regarding the situation the club is currently in as it finds its feet beyond a forgettable 2025 year.

“What I want to make the fans understand is that it won’t always be nice either. People always want honesty until they don’t want it. But for us, it’s about managing expectations,” he added.

He added: “We are in a really weak position, but the realism of the fans has given me great confidence that I can be open, honest, transparent and direct about how weak we are now.”

“I have to protect my players. I don’t like the situation I put them in, but the needs have to be.”