NEV’S DREAM SHATTERING
HE is Manchester United through and through, but Gary Neville admits that there’s been nothing like the emotional rollercoaster of Salford City.
Neville’s ambitions to turn a once struggling non-league club into a EFL Championship side appear to be flagging.
Right now with Salford dicing with relegation back into non-league, and having sacked six managers during their reign, the ‘Class of ’92’ – comprising Neville, brother Phil, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Singapore businessman Peter Lim – are seemingly at their wits’ ends.
A crushing 5-1 defeat at home to Tranmere Rovers was the group’s nadir and Neil Wood was ditched, despite having taken the club into last season’s League Two play-offs.
In their roles as TV pundits, Neville (above) and Scholes might encourage continuity, but that’s not been the case during their eight-and-ahalf years at the helm.
They inherited Phil Power, but dumped him in favour of up-andcoming managerial duo Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley.
Three promotions were duly delivered, taking the club from the Northern Premier League Division One North into the National League, just one tier away from the EFL.
But a dispute over the length of contracts saw Johnson and Morley leave to be replaced by Graham Alexander, who to the obvious joy of
Neville and company, illustrated in the TV documentary about the club, took them into the EFL promised land.
Alexander also guided Salford into the EFL Trophy Final at Wembley.
But he wasn’t around long enough to enjoy the fruits of his labours – being sacked despite Salford lying fifth early in their second season in League Two – and Richie Wellens in charge at Wembley in the victory over Portsmouth.
Neville cited a lack of an attractive playing style for sacking Alexander, a decision he admits he now regrets.
Hirings and firings continued, with Wellens axed just a week after the Wembley triumph. He paid the price for a slump in league form that saw them struggle to make the League Two play-offs.
Salford brought in experienced Gary Bowyer, who had worked alongside Wayne Rooney at Derby.
But 14 months after the club had once again narrowly missed out on the play-offs, Bowyer was also on his way.
Nicky Butt took over from Neville as chief executive and Neil Wood, who was in charge of Manchester United’s Under-23s, came in.
He’s now the latest Salford managerial casualty, with the club a long way off fulfilling the original dream and with attendances among the worst in the league.
Their average of just 2,761 this season is a far cry from near neighbours Stockport’s 9,071 and Wrexham’s 10,270.
The Neville nerves are once again fraying.