Salford City FC have unveiled a significant restructuring of their ownership, heralding a new chapter for the English League Two club.
Football icons David Beckham and Gary Neville are at the helm of a new consortium, deepening their commitment alongside a diverse group of international investors poised to fuel substantial future growth.
The revamped leadership structure sees US-based businessman Declan Kelly, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of advisory and investment firm Consello, and Lord Mervyn Davies, Chair of Consello’s Advisory Board, step in as new Co-Chairs of the Salford City FC board. They join Beckham and Neville, who expand their existing involvement with the club they famously invested in with other ‘Class of ‘92’ alumni.
This strategic overhaul reconfigures the previous shareholding. Fellow ‘Class of ‘92’ members Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Phil Neville will transition from their shareholder capacities. However, they are set to maintain a strong connection with the club, contributing their vast experience across technical operations, football strategy, commercial activities, player recruitment, and foundation initiatives. This shift also follows Gary Neville’s acquisition of Singaporean businessman Peter Lim’s stake in August 2024, consolidating the changes within the ownership.
The club will now operate under a members’ club model, featuring a total of nine shareholders. This international consortium brings a wealth of expertise and includes Dream Sports Group (India’s leading sports technology company), Colin Ryan (Founder, Clipper Street Capital), Frank Ryan (Global Co-Chair, Global Co-CEO, and Americas Chair, DLA Piper), Nick Woodhouse (Executive Vice Chairman, Authentic Brands Group), and Shravin Mittal (Founder of Unbound).
Speaking on the occasion, Gary Neville, Co-owner, said, “I am passionate about Salford City. This is a unique partnership with a diverse range of minds and expertise, held together by a love of football. Football will come first, however, it’s critical that we drive the Club towards sustainability in the next 4-5 years. I can’t wait for the next part of this journey.”
David Beckham, who has strong personal ties to the Salford area from his early football career, added, “I grew up in Salford….I have such fond memories of my time living there, and the place and its people played such an important part in my early life in football. Salford City is at the heart of its community….it has a rich history and I am delighted to be a part of the next chapter.”
Declan Kelly and Mervyn Davies said in a joint statement: “We have been close friends and partners for more than a decade and we look forward to partnering with David, Gary, this phenomenal new ownership group, the Class of ’92 and everyone at SCFC to take this project to the next level and hopefully bring more success to Salford City’s wonderful fan base, players and everyone associated with the Club.”
This transition marks a pivotal moment for Salford City FC as they aim to leverage new global backing and strategic expertise to build on their progress and further establish their presence in English football.