To understand why this matters, you must piece a few things together.
The long-term aim from the moment in 2014 that Salford City were bought by the ‘Class of 92’ – Scholes, Neville and his brother Phil, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and, eventually, Beckham, with substantial financial backing from Singapore businessman Peter Lim – was the Championship.
At the time, it seemed fanciful. Salford were in the second level of the Northern Premier League – the eighth tier of the English game – and sometimes playing to crowds of under 100.
But perceptions changed with four promotions in five seasons and massive investment that helped transform Moor Lane – now known as the Peninsula Stadium – to the point barely a single element of the stadium site remains as it was.
Neville subsequently admitted it was a mistake to sack Graham Alexander in October 2020, with the club fifth in the table after an unbeaten start. As with Robinson, style of play was a reason put forward.
Richie Wellens and Gary Bowyer followed Alexander before – after an ill-fated half-season under Neil Wood – Robinson was appointed in January 2024.
With the exception of the season Wood was in charge, Salford finished between seventh and 11th in their first six League Two campaigns.
Steady, but not the progress anticipated.
In a joint interview with the Athletic, external in September 2025, Beckham and Gary Neville admitted the club would have been in “serious trouble” had the ownership structure not changed and the funds found to go with it.
Losses over the previous seven years were estimated at £22.5m and Lim ended his involvement in 2024. The outlook was “scary”.
Beckham, who has ownership experience at Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, and Neville linked up with businessmen Declan Kelly and Lord Mervyn Davies to build a new consortium, which included significant partners including AIG and Coca-Cola.
In December, AIG became the club’s largest shareholder.
Salford’s restated aim was to reach the Championship in five years. They feel funding is available to achieve it, but their business model requires significant owner investment, as it always has.
