After seven seasons in League Two, Salford City are finally threatening to match the hype brought by their high-profile owners. First it was the Class of ‘92 who guided them up through the non-league system into the fourth tier but failed to progress any further. Gary Neville and David Beckham remain, part of a new group that took over in May 2025, with this year beginning to look transformational after securing an eighth straight win, against Exeter, to put them five points clear at the top.
The budget has increased, allowing the club to sign a number of players who will feel they are above League Two standard. Striker Macaulay Langstaff arrived from Millwall; the last time he played at this level, he scored 28 goals in a season for Notts County. Matchwinner Will Aimson spent the past two seasons in the division above with Wigan and has dropped down because of Salford’s project.
In terms of personnel, the most notable change was in the dugout where 48-year-old Peter Cklamovski replaced Karl Robinson, who was sacked after a desperate performance in the playoff final loss to Notts County. His previous experience came working under Ange Postecoglou before becoming a head coach in his own right in Asia, most recently taking charge of the Malaysia national team. Such was his unknown status, Salford’s chief football adviser Paul Scholes had to Google the Australian before he was appointed.
Off the pitch, Salford reverted to wearing orange, the traditional club colour that was changed by the Class of ‘92, who wanted the shirts to reflect their links to Manchester United. The fans voted for it, democracy in action where previously the owners knew best. Beckham has turned Inter Miami into a global brand worth more than £1bn, making pink a key part of its identity.
Lionel Messi shirt sales helped the hue travel, with kids across the UK spotted with the famous No 10 on the back. Beckham selected the shade of orange – and the badge was redesigned – but whether Langstaff et al can have the same effect as Messi remains to be seen. Attracting new fans is the aim but Salford face competition from much bigger clubs in the region.
Even with Manchester City in a crisis and United’s form spiralling, convincing locals to head down to the AIG Stadium is difficult. Cklamovski’s attractive style is a deliberate ploy but The Ammies have the fourth-worst average attendance in League Two. It is optimistic to think they can create a Championship fanbase, even with subsidised away travel.
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