IAN WATSON hopes Salford can convince owner Marwan Koukash to stick by them by coming through the Qualifiers.
The Red Devils’ boss admits he will speak to his family about the future, raising talk that he will look to sell next month.
SunSport understands a number of interested parties, including Simon Orange – one of the new backers of Sale Sharks RU – are preparing to make a bid.
Salford were docked six points for breaching salary cap rules in previous seasons and lost a subsequent appeal, denying them a Super 8s spot.
But coach Watson hopes saving Salford’s Super League status as the top flight’s bottom four take on the top four of the Championship will see Koukash stay.
He said: “Marwan’s sat down with us and he’s been honest. He feels like he’s had a lot on this year but he’s really committed to the group and making sure we’re in Super League next year.
“If we do, then he’ll have a bit of a break and decide from there.
“But he’s been here three years now and with bringing Tim Sheens in as director of rugby we’re heading in the right direction.
“Hopefully we get through the Qualifiers and Marwan thinks we’re going the right way, then he sits with his family and decides this is the right cause for him.”
Salford have brought in one-time London star Feleti Mateo and former England international Luke Burgess for the seven game series.
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But Watson admitted he would not like to guess what Sheens’ phone bill will be after almost constant calls to Australia to get the pair in before the transfer deadline.
And after seemingly putting up with all kinds of situations that were out of his control, Watson admitted he was prepared for whatever came his way after helping turn Swinton Lions around.
He added: “There I was asked to look after the players and to try to rebuild the club basically.
“That’s been a good thing for me. There’s a lot to deal with and it’s at a higher level at Salford with more intensity and pressure here but I had a good grounding at Swinton.
“With the stuff we’ve been dealing with here, I feel like I’ve been schooled in how to handle it.”
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