FORMER Salford owner Marwan Koukash says he is "itching" to get back into rugby league.

The multi-millionaire racehorse owner experienced a roller-coaster ride with the Red Devils for five years until he became disillusioned with paltry attendances and handed over control of the Betfred Super League club to a fans group earlier this year.

Koukash – whose wife Mandy has twice offered to buy Bradford Bulls – is maintaining his interest in Salford by offering to match the gate receipts from their Good Friday game against Catalans Dragons but is now setting his sights on Cumbria, which he feels is ripe to host a Super League club once more.

"I am itching to get back," he said. "The one thing I can't afford to do is fail the next time.

"I don't consider my time at Salford to be a failure but I was not successful. The next time it's going to have to be right."

Koukash has been appointed as lead business consultant for Cumbria Lakers, the club that hopes to re-introduce Super League to the area, and has held exploratory talks with Allerdale Council leader Alan Smith over a proposed new stadium in Workington.

The former Palestinian refugee envisages a brand new club playing out of a state-of-the-art 10,000-capacity stadium rather than a merger of the three current part-time Cumbrian clubs Workington, Whitehaven and Barrow.

"They could never be a Super League club on their own unless there is mega investment but it could happen if the whole county gets behind a new club," Koukash said.

"I was at a civic reception where the council leader announced the intention to build a new stadium for the 2021 World Cup and, if it comes off, that would be an ideal location. Everything hinges on a new stadium.

"There are a lot of negotiations to be done but there is so much potential in West Cumbria, which has produced 10 to 15 players for Super League clubs and lots more for the academies of Super League clubs."

There had been speculation last summer linking Koukash with Bulls but owner Andrew Chalmers, a former Salford director, shot down the rumours.

Koukash insists the Red Devils remain in his blood and, after buying a season ticket, he will double the takings for Friday's game at the AJ Bell Stadium.

"I am passionate about Salford, " he said. "I no longer own the club but that doesn't make any difference to how I feel about it.

"It is in my blood, I still hurt when when we lose and I'm over the moon when we win.

"Every single player and every member of staff are friends of mine and I want to help as much as I can.

"I can't keep donating money but by matching the gate receipts, I am hoping it will galvanise fans to turn up in numbers."

Koukash opened the gates for the corresponding game against the Catalans last season, seeking donations instead for the Manchester appeal, and was rewarded with an above-average attendance of 4,827.

Salford's new chairman Andrew Rosler said: "Salford is still very much in Marwan's heart - you can't put in, both personally and financially, what he did without a lasting attachment."