Club Issues IMG Grading Announcement for 2025 Season

Salford Red Devils announced their IMG grading results for the 2025 season, achieving a score of 12.65, placing them 15th overall. This performance enables the club to plan ahead for participation in the Betfred Championship for the 2026 season. Despite some areas requiring improvement, significant progress was noted in digital growth and community engagement.

Performance Analysis

Performance metrics are calculated based on the average scores of the 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons. Following a 12th-place finish in 2025, Salford’s ranking dropped by 0.3429 points compared to their previous Super League performance, ultimately placing them 8th overall in performance metrics.

Fandom Metrics

• Attendance: Salford averaged crowds of over 3,000, earning 2 points. They missed the higher tier by not exceeding an average of 7,500 attendees.
• Viewership: The club maintained 0.75 points, broadcasting five or more games, but did not rank among the top six most-watched teams.
• Digital Presence: Despite facing higher thresholds for social media engagement and website traffic, Salford achieved mid-table scores, receiving bonus points for over 10% year-on-year growth.

Financial Overview

Financial scores are based on data captured as of November 2024. Salford improved slightly in their financial score, gaining 0.15 points for their non-centralised turnover as a percentage of total income. There remain 2.2 additional points available in this category, highlighting it as a focus for future growth.

Stadium Evaluation

Stadium scoring considers several facets including facilities and utilization. Salford received full marks (1.5 points) for facilities. However, they scored only 0.3206 out of 1 point for utilization based on average attendance. The club received 0 points for Primacy, LED screens, and big screen setups since these aspects are influenced by their non-ownership of the stadium.

Community Impact

The community score reflects the club’s Foundation performance, earning 2 points out of a possible 2.5. This year, Salford experienced a reduction in Foundation income, leading to a 0.25-point decrease in their score.

Minimum Standards Compliance

All clubs must adhere to minimum standards set forth by the RFL in various categories, including talent development and operational compliance. Salford Red Devils faced a deduction of 0.25 points due to a breach of operational rules concerning team selection in their Round 1 match against St Helens. This incident resulted in their final overall IMG score of 12.65.

Summary of Salford Red Devils’ IMG Grading

Moving forward, Salford Red Devils will focus on addressing weaknesses and enhancing their overall performance as they prepare for the upcoming season in the Betfred Championship.