SALFORD DREAD DEVILS

Boss Rowley admits it's been soul-destroying seeing exodus of talent... but insists the club's bigger than everybody

- DAVE CRAVEN

SALFORD boss Paul Rowley admits it is "soul-destroying" seeing his talented side broken up.

But he maintains they will be competitive when the new Super League season kicks off in three weeks' time.

Red Devils sold England prop Tyler Dupree (main picture) to Wigan in July.

But then they also had to unexpectedly offload ex-Man of Steel Brodie Croft (above, right) and England's Andy Ackers (above, far right) to Leeds in October to help balance the books.

Rowley said: "It's heartbreaking. Surprises in rugby league aren't normally good ones and they have been damaging for us.

"It is soul-destroying. But, right or wrong, I don't think anyone makes those decisions to purposely damage or hurt anybody or take the soul and spirit from people.