The Class of 92-backed Salford City are looking for new investors to back the Greater Manchester side in their bid to become a contender for Championship football.
Having first been taken over by the Manchester United legends back in 2014 and now a decade into their joint ownership, the Class of 92 managed to take Salford out of the lower rungs and National League by 2019 and string together three successive promotions to get them into League Two by 2020.
However, progress has slowed in the years since and despite remaining an established EFL outfit, they are still yet to make the jump to the next division and are currently in 19th place in the fourth tier with a negative goal difference.
Salford City FC and its Board of Directors have launched a process to explore new strategic partners for the club to support its ambitious growth targets.
Salford City have officially put the call out for new investors.
Having seen the success of Wrexham AFC’s takeover by celebrity duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in recent years, not to mention their former home of Man United finally welcoming new albeit partial ownership in Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the M7-based side has already put the wheels in motion.
ADVERTISEMENT
Releasing a statement on the club website, Salford City said: “The Board have launched a process to explore new strategic partners for the club to support its ambitious growth targets.
“Current owners and management (led by the Class of ’92) remain fully committed to the club but are open to the possibility of the right new partner investing alongside the group with a view to capitalising on the club’s significant sporting, media/commercial and infrastructure opportunities.
ADVERTISEMENT
They go on to detail that they will be considering a wide range of options and potential partners but also that “some interest in new equity investment in the club has already been received.”
Aware that the process coincides with the 10th anniversary of their being on board, they are keen to make sure this new strategic plan includes “the development of its football infrastructure, expansion of its commercial and media operations and a continued rise through the football pyramid.”
Speaking on the announcement, CEO Nicky Butt, who replaced Gary Neville back in October 2022, said: “We are backing Salford City with as much commitment and confidence as ever. We have achieved very special things here but there are major opportunities in front of us and we want to make sure we have the right mix of investment and strategic partners to take advantage of those opportunities.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We had an original 10-year plan and with strong foundations now in place, it was always the intention to explore options for the next phase. That includes potentially bringing in new partners to help us grow the club and best serve the fans and community.”
With Naming Tifosy Capital and Advisory named as their exclusive financial advisor, it seems apparent that the hunt for new partners won’t just begin right away but that it already has, though there are no early indications as to who their first interested party might be.
With two draws, two wins and a loss from their last five, The Ammies will be hoping to get back to winning ways with tonight’s home fixture against Colchester United as they look to climb the table. You can watch the highlights from their last outing away to Mansfield Town down below:
Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Danny Jones
Manchester City are set to embark on somewhat of a spending spree this summer transfer window as the club’s higher-ups are looking to get business done before the 2025 Club World Cup.
With FIFA’s intercontinental club competition set to get underway in mid-June, the Blues don’t have too long to welcome in new players, but Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reiterated their urgency regarding recruitment.
Despite having brought in four new acquisitions in a very short space of time last season, the 50-year-old argued that he wasn’t completely happy with the extent and speed of their business.
Giving a lengthy interview this week, CFG‘s founding chairman has imposed an internal deadline ahead of the lucrative knockout competition.
Speaking with club media, Khaldoon recognised that while there were incomings in January of this year, he believes they “should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do, adding that he believes it “cost [them].”
“I can tell you today, we have clearly identified who exactly [the targets are], in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option”, he continues.
More importantly, he goes on to add: “We’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift. Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.”
He also suggested the flurry of activity this past January was not just atypical of the administration, but felt the squad fell into a crisis state with the number of injuries, insisting they “had to act.”
City have already been linked with a hugely talented and highly-rated European target in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne‘s departure and a lack of strength in depth in midfield.
An initial bid is said to have been received already and will likely be the first of many City summer signings.
He also insisted that the players who joined last season weren’t scattershot, emergency transfers (perhaps barring the resigning of İlkay Gündoğan) but were the start of the rebuild and “gives [fans] an idea of what’s coming this summer.”
Another player linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium is Lyon star Rayan Cherki, who scored in big moments during their Europa League run this year, registering 32 goal contributions across all competitions throughout the 24/25 campaign.
Who would you like to see added to Pep Guardiola’s side this summer, then, Man City fans?
You can watch Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s interview in full down below:
Danny Jones -
27th February 2024 
