FILE - David Beckham speaks to the media after leaving Westminster Palace where he paid respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, at Westminster Hall, London, England, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)
FILE - David Beckham speaks to the media after leaving Westminster Palace where he paid respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, at Westminster Hall, London, England, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)
David Beckham and Gary Neville are part of a new consortium to have taken ownership of English fourth-tier soccer club Salford City.
The club was previously owned by Beckham, Neville and other former Manchester United teammates in its so-called 鈥淐lass of 鈥92鈥 鈥 Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Phil Neville 鈥 along with Singapore businessman Peter Lim.
A new ownership group, containing Beckham, Gary Neville and other shareholders from the United States, India and England, has bought Salford and have committed to 鈥渋nvest significantly in the club, the team and its facilities,” Salford said on Thursday.
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Butt, Giggs, Scholes and Phil Neville are no longer shareholders but 鈥渨ill continue to contribute to the next step of this journey with roles in the club,鈥 Salford said.
Beckham grew up in Salford and said he had 鈥渟uch fond memories of my time living there and the place and its people played such an important part in my early life in football.鈥
鈥淪alford 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.鈥
Beckham also is a co-owner of Major League Soccer club Inter Miami.
Neville said the consortium contains 鈥渁 diverse range of minds and expertise, held together by a love of football.鈥
鈥淔ootball will come first, however it鈥檚 critical that we drive the club towards sustainability in the next four, five years,鈥 Neville said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait for the next part of this journey.鈥
Salford finished in eighth place 鈥 outside the playoff spots 鈥 in League Two this season.
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Beckham said he has been inspired by under the ownership of Hollywood celebrities since 2021.
鈥淚鈥檓 not saying this is why we鈥檙e doing it because it鈥檚 not,鈥 Beckham told The Athletic in an interview. 鈥淏ut I鈥檝e spoken to Ryan about it so many times now and he said the feeling around the city, the feeling around the club, is so exceptional. That鈥檚 the kind of thing that we want to create.鈥
Beckham added that the dream was to take Salford to the Premier League.
鈥淏ut there鈥檚 a lot of hard work and a lot of investment to be done up until that point,鈥 he said.
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