A Salford RLFC supporter and podcaster has praised outgoing coach Mike Grady for his spell at the club and outlined the qualities he hopes to see in his successor.
Robert Parkinson, one of the hosts of the Devil in the Detail Salford RLFC podcast, was full of praise for Grady, who left the club by mutual agreement after less than three months in charge.
Grady decided to leave after discussions with the board following a change in his personal circumstances. He guided Salford RLFC to their first two competitive wins during his time at the helm.
He was appointed just 11 days before Salford RLFC began their Championship season against Oldham and was instrumental in the rapid rebuild, which saw the club recruit a squad from scratch ahead of the game.
Parkinson feels that Grady’s hard yards had laid the groundwork for future success at the club.
He said: “Mike came into a difficult situation with the season starting in two weeks, so to get players in and a team together for their first game against Oldham was an achievement in itself really.
“He put in the foundation to build the squad for the future. He was a real rugby league man as well.”
The club’s former incarnation, Salford Red Devils, was wound up in a one-minute court hearing over outstanding debts last December.
After Mason Caton Brown’s consortium was granted permission to resurrect the club by the RFL and gained entry into the Championship, Grady was tasked with helping to recruit players and manage the team.
He led Salford to two competitive wins over Hunslet in the Championship and Hammersmith Hills Hoists in the Challenge Cup during his time in charge.
While Parkinson admitted “results haven’t been good”, he explained that Grady was a reliable communicator who helped to rebuild faith in the club after the disastrous former regime.
Parkinson said: “We have to admit that results just were not good enough aside from the win against Hunslet and in the Challenge Cup (against Hammersmith Hills Hoist), but I suppose he put in the foundation to build the squad for the future. He was a real rugby league man as well.
“I wish him the best with whatever happens next in his career, he’ll always be remembered fondly at the club.”
Parkinson said the main quality he hopes to see in the next Salford RLFC boss is “experience,” but conceded it may be challenging to encourage seasoned coaches to join a part-time club.
“We’re a part-time championship club. So when you’re looking at assistant coaches in the Super League, it’s a bit of a drop down from full-time assistant coaches in the Super League to a part-time championship club.
“So I do wonder who is on the market and if Salford can afford to pick anyone with experience up to take the club forward.
“We have gone from existing as a club to trying to achieve something, so it is going to be fascinating to see who comes in.”
Assistant coach Dave Hewitt has taken charge of the first-time on an interim basis.
