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'I considered leaving Reds'

3/ 7/2008

LONG-SERVING Salford skipper Malc Alker has admitted to ‘thinking about leaving’ his beloved Reds in the past.

The 29-year-old hooker twice could have departed the Willows for more money at higher profile clubs.

Alker said: "I’ve thought about leaving but it’s never been about money. However tempting other clubs have seemed something has always pulled me back towards Salford.

"I had an offer from Bradford when we got relegated in 2002. They wanted me to be Jimmy Lowes’ understudy in his last year and then take over from him when he retired. But I decided to stay put because my Testimonial was coming up and I’ve always loved it at Salford.

"Then in 2006, after we came fifth in Super League, I seriously considered an offer from St George in the NRL. But, again, I chose to stay at the club and I haven’t regretted it apart from when I look out of the window and it’s raining."

Staying loyal to Salford is widely believed to have scuppered his chances of fulfilling his ultimate dream – to play at international level for Great Britain.

He came closest to achieving that dream in 2001.

Alker said: "I know for a fact that I was very close to playing for Great Britain. In 2001 the team manager, Phil Clarke, rang me up and told me to get to training because I was in the team. They were his exact words.

"Unfortunately, I’d been banned for three games after an incident in the last game of Salford’s Super League season against Wakefield and I was ruled out of the Ashes series. So, that’s how close I came."

Meanwhile, Alker admits that he cannot help feeling nervous about Salford’s Super League fate as his and his teammates’ livelihoods are at stake.

The Reds will be told whether or not they have been successful in their Super League licence application on Tuesday, July 22.

And Alker said: "I do get a bit tense thinking about it as a lot is at stake here – not just for the club and the area but also for the players. Our livelihoods and careers are at stake.

"We believe we should definitely be awarded a Super League licence.

"When you look back over the years, we’ve made very significant improvements.

"Our youth development is excellent now and about 70 per cent of our team is made up of very good young players.

"Our marketing has been very successful when you look at the crowds we’ve attracted this year and over the last few years the club has attracted a lot of money in shirt sponsorship.

"When we were in Super League our shirt sponsorship was worth more than most other clubs.

"And, of course, our new stadium will be a superb asset for Super League."