The city centre will be painted sky blue this evening as Manchester City is set to celebrate their 2021-22 Premier League title.
After what had been one of the closest title races of the past few years, Manchester City yesterday pipped North West rivals Liverpool to the post during an impressive comeback in their final match of the Premier League season to successfully retain their title as the winners of English football’s top flight.
The Citizens eventually made their dream a reality by beating Aston Villa 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium after first going 2-0 down.
Two goals came from İlkay Gündoğan, and one from Rodrigo, all in the second half.
The victory yesterday was Manchester City’s sixth Premier League title in total since returning to the top flight in 2002, and the fourth Premier League title in five years won under current manager, Pep Guardiola.
But the celebrations weren’t just limited to yesterday, as Manchester City has now confirmed plans to take over the city centre this evening for an open-top bus parade and a party fit for champions.
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Here’s everything you need to know.
Open-Top Bus Parade
To show off the shiny Premier League trophy in all its glory to thousands of fans, Pep Guardiola and the Manchester City squad will set off on an hour-long open-top bus parade down the city’s main thoroughfare, before finishing at the Beetham Tower – where a live stage show will take place with the champions.
The parade bus will depart from Exchange Square near the National Football Museum at approximately 6pm, and then travel onto St Mary’s Gate.
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The route will then head south on Deansgate, and finish up near Beetham Tower at 7pm.
While fans will be able to line the streets for the full parade route, entrance to the official parade stage viewing area is only accessible via Deansgate, and not by any other entrance, with all supporters to be subject to a search before entering.
The accessible viewing platform on Great Bridgewater Street is available accessed from the same entrance, and will be available on “a first come first served basis”.
The open-top bus parade route through the city centre / Credit: Manchester City
Stage Entertainment
The open-top bus parade is only part of the party, as onstage entertainment will start at 4:30pm, with the players expected to arrive at approximately 7pm.
The parade party will be hosted by Manchester City’s City Square presenters Danny Jackson and Natalie Pike, who will be joined by former players and special guests, and, as there has been in previous years, there will also be live music from bands and DJs.
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As this is a non-ticketed event, Manchester City is suggesting that fans arrive early to get the best possible viewing experience.
There will also be screens throughout Deansgate showing all the action from the stage.
What is the Council saying?
Manchester City’s Premier League title-winning celebrations are being fully-supported and made possible with help from Manchester City Council.
Commenting on the parade, Councillor Bev Craig – Leader of Manchester City Council – said: “Winning back-to-back titles is a fantastic achievement which I’m sure City fans will be eager to celebrate, especially as the pandemic denied them the chance to do so last season.
“The Council are happy to support the parade and expect a memorable occasion as tens of thousands of fans gather in the city centre to share the moment”.
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Manchester City were crowned 2021-22 Premier League champions at the Etihad Stadium yesterday / Credit: Manchester City (via Twitter)
What else do I need to know?
Manchester City and Manchester City Council have also released some top tips for people making their way to the celebrations, and for everyone else travelling in and around the city centre this evening.
This is an outdoor event and will take place come rain or shine, so it’s recommended that fans:
Check the weather forecast before leaving to attend the celebrations.
Wearing appropriate clothing for the weather.
If it’s sunny, bring sun cream, a hat, and drink lots of water.
If it’s raining, bring wet weather clothing as umbrellas are not allowed.
The weather forecast for this afternoon into the evening in Manchester city centre is predicting a combination of overcast skies and rain showers, with temperatures ranging from 12°C – 14°C.
For all travel advice – including details of bus diversions – refer to the TfGM website here.
Four players set to leave Salford City as club confirms retained list
Danny Jones
Salford City FC have announced their retained list for next season as this year’s EFL campaigns come to a close, with four players confirmed to be leaving the club.
It’s been another up-and-down year for the Ammies, with Karl Robinson’s side ever so narrowly missing out on the playoff places despite looking like they might just sneak in only a fortnight ago.
The Greater Manchester club has somewhat plateaued following their streak of promotions in the immediate years following the Class of ’92 buyout – even Gary Neville himself admits they’ve “lost some momentum” – but with another new era beckoning, who knows what the next few years hold?
One thing that we do now know is which players will be staying at the Peninsula Stadium, with Salford City revealing the four names set to depart upon the contract expiry this summer.
Following a sixth consecutive League Two season, Robinson and the administration will no doubt be looking to once again freshen up the squad in the coming transfer window.
That being said, while the likes of ‘Player of the Year’ Ossama Ashley, and fellow first-team stars Haji Mnoga and Luke Garbutt all seeing their deals extended into at the very least 2025-26, not mention seven new contracts offered to new players, they will be losing some key players and fan favouries.
Right-back Liam Shephard has also decided to join those parting ways with the Ammies head of next season, with many fans gutted to see the popular squad member heading for the exit door.
The club are going about sharing farewell videos for each of them, knowing full well a few will feel tought to take for some supporters.
Thank you for the past 4 years Shep ❤️
Across 92 games, a nearly 50% win percentage along with 4 goals and 13 assists, we thank @Liam_Shep2 for all his hard work 🫡 pic.twitter.com/G2cPLYx9hx
Crediting all of them for the years of service, especially given the roles that many of them played in helping Salford reach the playoffs in the 2022/23 season, the club expressed their gratitude to the senior quarter for their contributions.
Meanwhile, in terms of the youth set-up, there due to be even more departures, including the likes of Callum Morton, Jez Davies, Marcus Dackers, Sandro Da Costa and more.
You find out the full details from the 24/25 retained list HERE.
With a second modern takeover of Salford City having just been confirmed this month, the new ownership group will be looking regain some of that monentum Neville talked about and bring in replacements for the outgoings as they look to continue climbing the pyramid.
Ex-Salford Red Devils CEO steps back in to try and save the club from collapse
Danny Jones
Former Salford Red Devils CEO, Paul King, has flown in to help his former employers as the rugby league side hopes to rescue itself from the brink of complete collapse.
Paul King only left Salford Community Stadium and the Red Devils in February, being replaced by Chris Irwin, but since the latter resigned this month and promises of financial security still look far from coming good, the 54-year-old is back in the fold and trying his best to save the 152-year-old club.
Salford were the subject of a Swiss takeover earlier this year, which looked like it might beckon a whole new era for the long-established local team, but despite claims of clearing debts and righting the ship by businessman Dario Berta, it turns out that little has been done to fix the books since then.
In fact, as it turns out, Salford’s line of credit only appears to have been extended as the Devils are thought to be rather deep in the red (a rather cruel irony) with payday loans taken out to pay player wages and keep them afloat. With that in mind, King has come back to do what he can.
While the new consortium is yet to deliver key funds, King is taking the fall. (Credit: Salford Red Devils via Facebook screenshot)
As per multiple outlets, King has now returned to Salford in an ‘advisory role’, consulting on how best to navigate the persisting choppy water surrounding the club.
Although the club has so far refrained from making any kind of announcement of their own – the last being the confirmation of chief exec Irwin’s departure on 6 May – it’s understood that King has actually been continuing to help cover costs ever since he left.
The man himself has downplayed his impact thus far, stating that he’s simply “been pulled in from gardening leave to advise, that’s all”, insisting that “it’s all very short-term.”
However, despite no longer being actually a full-time member of staff at Salford Red Devils, he is said to have been paying player wages for the last three months and
Even more concerningly, though it will no doubt touch fans to hear, he is also believed to have put his own home up as collateral against what the club owes to lenders; it’s not even the first time he’s done this, either.
Former CEO Paul King is back at Salford Red Devils in an advisory role.
It's understood King paid the player wages for the past three months.
👹 The Devils are still waiting on significant funds from their new owners.
In a modern sporting era where owners, consortiums, nation states and so on are often criticised over their stewardship of clubs, this kind of generosity and hustle from a man who isn’t even technically employed by the business has to be applauded.
That being said, it’s no surprise that their struggles off the pitch have translated to performances as well, with Salford sitting at the bottom of the Betfred Super League table, having notched just one win this season. Some stability is needed, and soon.
Here’s hoping it all pays off – a community club that’s been around so long and means so much to the local area cannot be allowed to disintegrate.
Meanwhile, over in the EFL, neighbours Salford City FC have also seen their ownership change hands as they hope to avoid similar uncertainty in this next chapter. The sporting-obsessed city and its countless supporters have no intention of giving up on their teams.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd May 2022 
