In a bold move following their takeover, Manchester United legends Gary Neville and David Beckham have released 17 players from League Two club, Salford City. This decision comes as part of a five-year plan to propel the club into the Championship.
Days after completing their takeover of the League Two side as part of a new consortium, Beckham and Neville have made significant changes to the team. The Lancashire outfit finished last season in eighth place but is now taking ruthless measures to secure promotion next term.
Player retention and release
The released players include Ryan Watson, Matthew Lund, Jon Taylor, Conor McAleny, Jez Davies, Liam Shephard, Marcus Dackers, Callum Morton, James Carr among others. With these departures alongside those who had options triggered to stay at the club; Salford now has 13 players on its roster.
The rest of Manchester United's Class of '92 - Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs Paul Scholes and Phil Neville - were bought out during this takeover. This also includes former banker Lord Mervyn Davies and businessman Declan Kelly joining forces with Beckham & Neville.
Targeting Championship glory
This drastic change is part of an ambitious five-year plan aimed at reaching the Championship. For achieving such results there can be no room for sentimentality; hence this strategic decision was taken by Beckham & Neville led consortium.
Salford has been stuck in League Two since 2019 despite achieving four promotions in five years prior. Now they are intensifying their efforts to climb out of this division with an eye on future glory.
It seems that preparations for next season are already underway at Salford City. The club is aiming to earn promotion to League One in 2026, and this recent player release is a clear indication of their commitment to this goal.
