Former Manchester United star Nicky Butt has revealed the big expectation in place for the ‘Class of ‘92’ at League Two side Salford City.
Nicky Butt was one of the famed Class of ‘92 members who broke into the Manchester United first team under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 49-year-old ex-United and England midfielder had a fruitful spell at Old Trafford and lifted six Premier League titles, a Champions League and three FA Cups.
Butt linked up with his fellow Class of ’92 teammates post-United after they completed their takeover of Salford City in 2014.
The ex-England international and fellow Class of ’92 members Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes snapped up 10 per cent stakes in the club.
Billionaire Singaporean Peter Lim captured the remainder of the Salford City stake before selling a 10 per cent stake to Class of ’92 member David Beckham in 2019.
Salford City has seen a significant rise since Peter Lim and the Class of ’92 took charge, with the club achieving four promotions in five seasons under them.
The Ammies, who lifted the EFL Trophy in 2021, are currently competing in League Two under Salford City manager Karl Robinson.
Butt on Class of ’92 and Salford City
Salford City secured their place in League Two for the 2019-20 season after securing promotion via the play-offs.
Karl Robinson’s men finished the current League Two season in 20th place, with Salford City winning 13 matches, picking up 12 draws and suffering 21 defeats.
Speaking to BBC Radio’s Manchester Total Sport (via BBC Sport), Nicky Butt admitted that the Class of ’92 are keen to put the club back on track for promotion.
The former Manchester United star admitted there were higher expectations for Salford City this season, despite failing to make a bigger impact in League Two.
When asked if promotion is an important objective for next season, Butt said: “Absolutely.
“Every year the manager comes in, the players, we talk to them about expectations.
“No-one is saying if we don’t get promotion it’s all going to change.
“It’s a tough league but you have to have the right mentality to go and get promotion, that’s what the fans want, us as owners, the managers, the players, the sponsors.
“We expected to go one better this season. Was the squad better? It turned out not to be the case.
“We wanted to get promotion, we’re an ambitious ownership group, hopefully ambitious players, and everything we do we get laughed at because I said promotion, but if you don’t go into a season wanting promotion you may as well quit.”
Ex-Man Utd star Butt talks Salford City
Butt has insisted that the Class of ’92 have a close connection to Salford City and stressed their commitment to the club.
Ryan Giggs, who has taken up a role at Salford City, previously opened up about the affinity that his former United teammates have with the Ammies.
Butt highlighted the Class of ’92’s commitment to the “10-year plan” for Salford City and what they have achieved so far at the League Two outfit.
“We love the football club, it’s our baby,” he said.
“I don’t think the lads need to come in here every single day. We’ve got lovely lives, we go on holiday when they want, enough money, why come in here? But you’ll find the lads in here.
“We made a 10-year plan, build a support base, a stadium and an academy and we’ve done that.
“We don’t want pats on the back, ultimately we’ve said what we’d do. Salford City have never done that in their history.
“Those 10 years are up, what’s the next 10 years? Where do we want to get to – stadium, Championship? That’s going to take a lot of money.
“We have a nice life, we don’t have that kind of money. You need investment in and expertise in growing the global brand.”