Former ManU teammates Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs "have entered into talks" to buy semi-pro Northern Premier League side Salford City FC, according to Mike Keegan of the MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS. The duo "are in discussions" with Salford officials "with a view to a takeover that could see the pair set up an academy at the Moor Lane club." Sources close to Neville and Giggs, who remains at the Red Devils as a player-coach, said that the move "was at a 'early stage.'" A Salford board meeting took place on Saturday night at which "an overwhelming majority voted in favour of welcoming a potential bid." Nobody from the club "wanted to comment on the situation," but it is thought that "many are excited by the prospect" of Neville, an England coach and respected Sky Sports pundit, "taking the reins along with local lad Giggs" (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 2/6). In London, Ian Ladyman reported Neville and Giggs "are hopeful of developing the club" at first team and reserve level, but are "particularly keen to find a way to stop local talent disappearing from the area." Neville "is known to have deep-rooted concerns about the lack of players finding their way from non-league football through to the top four tiers of English professional football." Sources close to the two players "have stressed that they have absolutely no intention of developing a club as opposition to United, as has happened with nearby FC United" (DAILY MAIL, 2/6).
