Chairman: Famous five will inspire others

EVO-STIK Northern Premier League chairman Mark Harris is hoping Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville will inspire others among their generation of top flight footballers to become owners of community clubs after the Manchester United legends finally took control of Salford City.

The ex-United stars, pictured, sparked international headlines back in March when they agreed to take over at the First Division North’s Ammies and completed the final formalities with business partner Peter Lim last Thursday after the change of ownership was ratified by the Football Association and EVO-STIK NPL earlier in the month.

Singapore-based self-made billionaire Lim has known the players for more than 10 years before linking up with them in September.

Chairman Karen Baird and the committee will continue in their current roles and work with Lim and the five members of the United’s FA Youth Cup wining side of 1992 to nurture talented young footballers in the North West at Moor Lane and establish a vibrant community club.

After the key role Non-League played in aiding the careers of many top level players, Harris believes the project could lead others to follow their example and invest in the future of football development at the heart of local communities

Harris said: "We are delighted to welcome the new owners of Salford City to the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League. It marks a real departure for us to see legends of the game putting something back into their local communities through ownership of a community club.

"I hope that Gary Neville and his CO92 colleagues have a long and happy association with our level of the game and that other players with the same passion and desire to help others follow in their footsteps might consider taking the same route in the future.

"The profile this news gives to Salford City, the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League and Non-League football in general can only be for the good, something it was already proving to do before the takeover was finally completed."

In a collective statement, the CO92 quintet said: "The first three months have been very enjoyable and we have been very impressed with the football and commitment by the players we have seen in this league.

"When we first discussed the idea it was important for us to engage the community where we grew up and nurtured our own careers and use our experience. Karen and the committee, however, will continue to run the club on a day to day basis."

Image courtesy of www.football.co.uk

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