Salford Red Devils COO quits, director resigns, and fans threaten protest amid deepening crisis
Salford Red Devils’ off-field turmoil has escalated further, with Chief Operating Officer Claire Bradbury resigning in a blistering letter detailing unpaid wages, poor governance, and cultural mismanagement.
Joining in the exodus is director Steven Englander, who quit just two months after stepping into the role in mid-June, further unsettling hopes of a turnaround.
Mismanagement claims and culture concerns
In her resignation, the club’s first female COO in the Super League spoke of repeated delays in salary payments - including her own July wages - an absence of essential operational tools, and a lack of clear structure or strategy.
She lamented not being able to deliver her growth and brand strategy, and warned that the club’s “soul” was being “ripped out.”
Most alarmingly, she revealed that a member of the club's ownership had made misogynistic comments suggesting she should “sleep with” an RFL official to “smooth things over.”
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Meanwhile, Steven Englander’s departure this week has further depleted top-level leadership at the club, leaving former CEO Paul King as the only active director in the mix.
Initially brought in alongside King to stabilise Salford’s finances and operations, Englander’s quick exit has prompted renewed concern.
Earlier in the week, supporter group The 1873 announced a protest to take place during the fixture against Wakefield Trinity on Sunday, August 17.
The club responded by posting a highly criticised statement, promising a turnaround in the club's affairs.
This did little to quell fan upset, with the protest still set to take place against the owners of the club.
Their attendance at the game against Hull FC - which saw the Devils lose 80-6 - drew outrage from many.
Love to know how Salford’s owners can sit there and not feel even a tinge of remorse over what they’ve done to that club. It’s painful to watch and it’s unfair on the players and fans.
— Michael Lavelle (@mikelavelle93) August 10, 2025
This mass of resignations — CEO, COO, director — combined with fan unrest, paints a stark picture of a club in crisis.
As Claire’s resignation laid bare deep-rooted issues of mismanagement and sexism, Englander’s exit and the looming protests suggest an urgent need for transparency, accountability, and meaningful change at Salford Red Devils.