Gary Neville and co bring in forgotten ex-Premier League star, 40, as Salford City look to recover from dismal season
SALFORD CITY have appointed a former Premier League ace as their new Under-18s manager.
Manchester United’s Class of ‘92 Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and brother Gary and Phil Neville purchased a stake in the club in 2014.
Since then they have enjoyed great success as Salford climbed up the non-league pyramid and into the Football League.
But they have been stuck in the fourth tier since winning the National League play-offs in 2019.
Gary Neville, who says he has become “disconnected” from Salford due to a change in role, worked as the club’s CEO for eight years before stepping down in October 2022.
That was just prior to Salford sacking former Man Utd youth coach Neil Wood, the fifth boss they had axed in five-and-a-half years.
The experienced Karl Robinson arrived in the dug-out in January and he managed to guide them to safety with a 20th placed finish.
Now the former MK Dons chief will be hoping to bring in recruits and add his stamp on the club over the summer, and that may even include their youth set-up.
Salford have today confirmed that Dean Marney is the new lead U18s coach.
The former England U21 international made nearly 400 appearances as a midfielder in the Premier League and Championship.
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He came through the ranks at Tottenham, where he ventured out on loan to Swindon Town, QPR, Gillingham and Norwich before departing permanently despite two goals in his eight appearances for Spurs.
He headed to Hull City and was part of Phil Brown’s team which won the Championship play-offs in 2008 and then stayed up the next term.
Marney, 40, signed for Burnley in 2010 and he helped them to win the Championship in 2016.
He then had a two-year stint at Fleetwood before hanging up his boots in 2020 and starting his coaching journey.
He has completed his Uefa A and B licences and spent last season coaching Burnley’s U15 and U16 teams prior to taking up his new job.
Marney said: “I am looking forward to the opportunity, there are some really good players at the club, some of whom have already made it through to the first team, so hopefully there will be more to follow soon.
“I have already taken a few sessions with the lads, and they went well, the team trained really well.
“I think in the current under-16s who will be full time next season, there are some good players, and it is a good group.
“It is just about trying to create the right mentality, because it is all very well having the ability, but you also have to have the other side too, so that is something that I can help bring.”
Marney added: “This feels like the right time to be joining the club, with the new manager and with the academy moving up to a category three level, it looks like everything is moving in the right direction towards looking to push players through from the academy, so to be part of that is great and is the next step in my own coaching development, so I am very grateful for the opportunity.”
DEAN MARNEY
All you need to know about his playing days:
Position:
Midfielder
Clubs:
Tottenham, Swindon (loan), QPR (loan), Gillingham (loan), Norwich City (loan), Hull City, Burnley, Fleetwood Town
Career league total:
378 apps, 21 goals
International:
England U21 (1 cap)
Honours:
Championship play-offs (2008)
Championship title (2016)