Salford City has been acquired by a new consortium led by David Beckham and Gary Neville.
New shareholders include US businessmen Declan Kelly and Lord Marvin Davis.
Neville and Beckham, along with previous classes of ’92 Manchester United teammates Nikki Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Sholes and Phil Neville, are already co-owners of Salford, but they are no longer shareholders.
Singaporean businessman Peter Lim has been a majority shareholder since his first acquisition in 2014, before Neville acquired the shares last August.
Beckham said: “I grew up in Salford, and I have very much love for my time and place I live there and the people who played such a vital role in my early life in football.
“Salford City is at the heart of our community. It has a rich history and is pleased to be part of the next chapter.”
Image: Peninsula Stadium in Salford City
Salford says the acquisition was “uniquely structured” through a member club consisting of nine shareholders, including Dream Sports Group (a leading sports technology company in India), Colin Ryan (Clipper Street Capital), Frank Ryan (Global Co-Chair, Global Co-CEO, American Co-CEO, DLA Piper, DLA Piper), and Nick Woodhouse (Executive Vice Chairman).
“These shareholders have extensive experience working with many of the world’s largest companies and brands,” Salford said. “Membership groups are specifically built to include executives portrayed from a variety of backgrounds in the finance, legal, media, technology and entertainment sectors, maximizing the impact and contribution the club has on moving forward.”
Neville added: “I’m passionate about Salford City, a unique partnership with the diverse hearts and expertise that have been brought together by the love of football. Football will be the first, but it’s important to drive the club towards sustainability over the next four or five years.
Salford won four promotions in five seasons, reaching the EFL following a class of 92 acquisitions, but their progress has stagnated.
They scored points outside the playoffs this season under manager Carl Robinson, and are now beginning to prepare for their seventh consecutive League Two campaign.
