Gary Neville feels ‘disconnected’ as Man Utd’s Class of ’92’s dream of taking Salford to Premier League implodes
GARY NEVILLE admits he has become “disconnected” from Salford City due to a change in role.
The Manchester United legend joined forces with former team-mates Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Phil Neville to purchase a stake in the EFL side in 2014.
Salford have since climbed up the football pyramid and now compete in League Two.
Neville recently took a step back from his operational role in the club due to his media commitments elsewhere.
And, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, the former defender revealed he now feels slightly “disconnected” as a result.
He said: “I’m still an owner of Salford City, but the lads have been operational in the club, which I haven’t been doing.
“I felt massive pressure at games, less so now, because when you’re not making the decisions every day that are responsible for spending the money or bringing the players/managers in.
“Obviously, I watch every Salford game, usually by a link or in the stadium, but I am watching every week.
“However, because I’m not making the decisions every day, I feel disconnected, but I’m still desperate for them to win every single week.
“For the eight years before, I loved it. In the first six years, we gained four promotions and we won the EFL Trophy at Wembley, so that was the first six years.
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“But then we had the next three years where we didn’t get promoted.
“So the guys on the board sat down and said Gary is doing part time, only doing two days a week and actually, we’re not succeeding and hit a wall, and had three attempts at League Two and failed.
“I had been on television talking about Ed Woodward, speaking about other people at football clubs, and if you get given a few years as an owner and you’re not delivering, then you’re not likely to ever get them.
“So they were right to move me into a Director role and the lads who are there every day, are now in the role to have a go for the next few years.”
Neville works as a pundit and co-commentator for Sky Sports alongside his role for Salford.
Before retiring from professional football, he won eight Premier League titles, two Champions League titles and four FA Cups.
He also made 602 appearances for Man Utd and was capped 85 times for England.