Stefan Ratchford to part ways with Salford City Reds at end of 2011 Super League season – Rugby News
English rugby league club, Salford City Reds also known as The Reds Devil, has confirmed the departure of their stand-out Stefan Ratchford at the end of the current season.
Salford City Reds’ head coach, Matt Parish, has confirmed Ratchford’s deaprture on Tuesday, July 26. Parish confirmed that Ratchford has rejected the new contract offered by the Reds and has chosen to join their rivals, Warrington Wolves.
Commenting on the Ratchford decision, Parish said, “He's made his decision and we've moved on already, the club can do no more.”
Reds currently are placed at 10th position on the Super League table with 18 points coming from their 21 matches, which includes nine wins in the season so far.
Warrington Wolves on the other hand are second on the table and just one point behind the Wigan Warriors, who are leading the table with 33 points. Wolves have won a maximum number of games in the season so far after they won 16 of their 21 games in the
season.
Parish his expressed his displeasure with the Wolves recruitment drive in which they have recruited two of their best players in a span of a year. At the end of the last season, Wolves signed Reds’ Richie Myler.
Parish said, “Warrington have came down last year and took a player [Richie Myler] off us and they've done it again this year.” He has expressed his commitment to not let this happen again. He added that the he will try his best to retain “any future stars.”
In replying to the question regarding the club’s efforts to retain Ratchford and to persuade him to change his decision, Parish commented, “Personally I don't think that is right but again it's up to the kid to make a decision, he made it, so good luck to
him.”
Wigan born Ratchford has progressed his way up through the Reds’ developmental structure. He joined the Reds’ Academy in 2005. He made his senior club debut for the Salford City Reds’ in 2007.
The 23-year-old Ratchford has made 103 appearances for the Reds and the squad has five more games to play in the 2011 Super League season.
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