Salford City Reds chairman proposes Sale groundshare

Salford City Reds plan to move into their new home ahead of the 2012 season

Salford City Reds chairman John Wilkinson says he would be willing to have his club groundshare with rugby union side Sale Sharks.

The Reds are moving to a new 12,000-seater stadium in Barton and Wilkinson sees it as an ideal sharing situation.

"If you're honest and very realistic you would want Sale to play there," Wilkinson told BBC Radio Manchester.

"To play 15 games in a stadium is not really the answer and you see how many stadiums are being shared."

The Reds are in their final season playing at the Willows, which they have called home for 110 years.

Sale Sharks currently groundshare with League Two side Stockport County at Edgeley Park, which is owned by Sale proprietor Brian Kennedy's company Cheshire Sports.

Sale's attendances have fallen in recent years and appear to already be looking at alternatives as they have moved their home fixture against London Irish to Bolton Wanderers' Reebok Stadium on Saturday, 16 April.

"The only thing that I want to protect is that we can still have the University game down here, the school finals and everything that appertains in our community," Wilkinson added.

"I still feel with the new surfaces that can be put down - and they are investing in the playing surface - that it could take quite easily two teams.

"It makes all the sense in the world. Sale have got some directions they would like to re-build Edgeley Park and you can't blame them for that but at this moment in time we are the sole occupier."