Salford City have been taken over by a new consortium led by Gary Neville and David Beckham, ending the ownership stakes of former Manchester United teammates Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. The League Two club's restructuring sees the Class of 92 members who bought in 2014 sell their shares, with Beckham joining as a significant investor.
Beckham, who previously held a 10% stake, has now increased his involvement alongside Neville, who acquired Peter Lim's remaining 40% last August. The consortium includes Lord Davies of Abersoch, Declan Kelly, Dream Sports Group, Colin Ryan, Frank Ryan, Nick Woodhouse, and Shravin Mittal, each holding 5-10% shares. A further 20% remains available for sale.
Beckham stated ambitions to reach the Premier League, telling the Athletic: 'I always dream big so I’m always going to want us to get to the pinnacle of football.' Neville emphasised sustainability, saying: 'Football will come first, however it’s critical that we drive the club towards sustainability in the next four-to-five years.'
The ownership group has raised approximately $15-20 million (£11.2-15 million) for investment in the team and facilities over five years, targeting promotion to the Championship within that period. A club statement confirmed 'a commitment by the new shareholders to invest significantly in the club, the team and its facilities.'
