Salford Red Devils' funding deal with RFL - what does it mean and what happens next?

Salford Red Devils have been boosted by the news that they will receive the central funding advancement they have requested, with the Super League club to receive £500,000 of distribution to ensure they can steer clear of their latest financial crisis.

On Monday, it was announced that Rugby League Commercial had decided to accept Salford's request. But crucially, it comes with consequences.

A statement released confirmed that the advancement of central funding was "on the condition of central involvement in and scrutiny of a more sustainable long-term trading position" for the club.

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But what does that actually mean? This is a scenario very rarely seen but in essence, Salford are going to have some financial decisions taken out of their hands moving forward.

As part of the conditions, which have seen Salford enter special measures, both the RFL and Rugby League Commercial will be hiring a figure tasked with improving the financial health of the club. The main instruction is to ensure that Salford's costs are at a point where the club can be sustainable and not in a position where further financial issues could arise.

That process will likely see the person or company appointed taking a deeper look at the finances of the club and working out what needs to be done to ensure the club can wash its face. That, inevitably, will result in the club having to scale back its spending.

Essentially, you could argue that Salford will be treated like a club that are in administration, but without the penalties that come with that because, and to be absolutely clear here, the club hasn't entered administration. However, the process that they are about to be subjected to is very similar to the one that a club under those circumstances would experience.

The extent of that, as well as the process of executing it, won't be determined until the regulators are in but there is an expectation both internally and externally at the club that it will result in some players leaving the club to lower the wage bill.

There are some moving parts in all this, with Salford currently seeking investment while they also hope the completion of the stadium deal will allow them to sign off on commercial deals and other streams that will bring in revenue. Should those things come to fruition, the likelihood is that the nature of the scale-back won't be as extensive.

But there is an expectation that, at present, considerable changes are likely to be forced on the club to ensure there isn't a repeat of their current situation.