Salford's season ends with defeat amid fan protests

ACTION ON PITCH SECONDARY TO CHALLENGES OFF IT

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SALFORD'S crisis-hit Betfred Super League season came to a tumultuous close as they were beaten 52-16 by playoff bound Wakefield amid an acrimonious atmosphere at the Salford Community Stadium.

Fan protests and frequent chants against the club's elusive owners provided the majority of the narrative on a night when the action on the pitch was very much secondary to the implications off it.

Jack Walker's late consolation try for the home side sparked a pitch invasion and a barrage of red smoke bombs, but there was a sense of resignation on the final hooter, which almost certainly marked an end of Salford's topflight tenure.

The Red Devils are set to be kicked out when IMG's gradings are released next month, shifting the focus to an adjourned winding-up order and in what form the 151-year-old club might continue to exist at all.