It's interesting reading the wide consensus of views from other fans with regards to MK. He's certainly marmite.
As a Salford fan of many years, most of which have been spent in constant decline, MK has literally saved the Club from disappearing. So he'll always be held in high regard. I don't always agree with him or some of his ideas and methods, but I do admire the fact that he's not frightened of change. The thing that bothers me about other fans who have a downer on him, which is perfectly fine as we're all entitled to our opinion, is that it's more based on what they imagine rather than the truth.
He works very hard at building and regaining what most Clubs already have in place and don't have to think about. Things like local community engagement, links with amateur sides, and starting from scratch to try and inject the Club into the consciousness of not only a despondent community and fanbase that has had the Club removed from its heart. But also trying to form a wider community encompassed around a completely new area. Not an easy task to sell a Club to the public that has declined over thirty years. He has totally changed the working practices of the Club behind the scenes and brought in people from outside of RL to run vital areas. He's thrown money at recruitment on the field because we basically had a reserve Championship squad two seasons ago. He's scouted far and wide for as many of the best amateur players to be signed-up to the Academy to start bringing talent through over the next few years. He wants to build purpose-built housing and facilities for the academy players. He's even building Swinton Lions a new ground because he sees the benefit of RL back in its own communities. He's brought in serious amounts of sponsorship and tempted UnderArmor into the RL world with a really large sponsorship deal. He bought a top race horse and races it on behalf of the Steve Prescott foundation with all the winnings going to that charity.
All I can say is that he has transformed the Club beyond recognition, and mainly in ways that opposition fans don't see. There's a big difference between MK the pantomime villain and the real one. He's a character, self-made, down to earth. He can be annoying, silly, and confrontational. Is he bad for the game? I don't think so. But I do have a vested interest in him doing what he's promised.
The negativity is spawned from dislike, for whatever reason. Fine. But to suggest he's a fool bumbling from one thing to another is wide of the mark.
