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标题：Rugby League: Simms: I'm not giving up hope
作者：DAVID BURKE
期刊名称：Sunday Mirror
印刷版ISSN：0956-8077
出版年度：2002
卷号：Oct 6, 2002
出版社：Mirror Group Newspapers Ltd.

Rugby League: Simms: I'm not giving up hope

DAVID BURKE

SUPER League bottom club Salford City Reds haven't given up hope of hanging on to their top flight status.

The Reds are praying Batley Bulldogs or cash-strapped Halifax Blue Sox can give them an 11th-hour reprieve.

Salford football supremo Steve Simms admits: "We accept it's a long shot but where there's life there's hope.

"All our players are contracted until the end of December and if we stay in Super League those contracts must be honoured and deals agreed with other clubs before then won't be valid."

Simms, 50, will be cheering underdogs Batley at his old club Leigh Centurions in today's Northern Ford Premiership semi-final - and no wonder!

Leigh are favourites to meet table-toppers Huddersfield Giants in next Saturday's final at Widnes with the winners lined up to replace Salford in Super League.

Simms, the former Leigh coach, says: "I still have many friends in Leigh and under normal circumstances would want them to win the crown and seal a Super League place.

"Huddersfield and Leigh are desperate for a top flight spot but apparently Batley aren't interested in Super League if they win the NFP Grand Final and obviously that would suit us.

"The chances of Batley beating Leigh today and Huddersfield next Saturday are very remote but stranger things have happened.

"I don't know too much about Halifax's financial troubles but obviously they will have to satisfy Super League they have a business plan in operation and can survive.

"If they fail to provide such guarantees that could throw us another lifeline," said Aussie Simms, who also coached Halifax from 1994-97.

Salford's side is splitting up with Aussies Michael Hancock and Mark Corvo already released and Aussies Greg Ebrill, Jason Nicol and skipper Darren Treacy ready to move back home.

Michael Wainwright has joined Warrington, Warren Jowitt is heading for Hull, hooker Malcolm Alker is lined up by Bradford and Neil Baynes is a target for Wakefield, who are also rivals with Castleford for Damien Gibson.