Latest news with #Classof'92
New Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Fernandes, Mainoo, Diallo meet fans in sea of red at TRX
KUALA LUMPUR: Manchester United brought a red tide to the heart of Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday as fans packed the Adidas store at The Exchange TRX to catch a glimpse of their heroes. The ground floor of City Avenue was transformed into a sea of red during two meet-and-greet sessions, giving die-hard supporters the chance to connect with their favourite United stars ahead of Wednesday's friendly against the Asean All-Stars. Present at the event were club captain Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho, Amad Diallo, Harry Amass, Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo. Many fans turned up hours in advance to secure prime spots and witness Adidas' showcase of United kits from the past decade. Supporters of all ages, clad in jerseys old and new, stood shoulder to shoulder with posters, shirts and memorabilia in hand, hoping for autographs or selfies. While walking through the pop-up exhibition, Diallo reflected on the impact of the Class of '92, which included legends David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Wes Brown. "They are part of United history and we're proud of them," said Diallo, who scored 11 goals in 43 appearances this season. Mainoo, who made 37 appearances this season and hails from Stockport, was asked about the 'Holy Trinity' statue at Old Trafford, featuring Sir Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best. "They built this legacy. It's part of our stadium and our history," said the 20-year-old midfielder. "It's what everyone wants to visit when they come to Old Trafford." Club captain Fernandes also weighed in on United's season and his ambitions for the future. "It's amazing to be part of the club," said Fernandes. "All the players you see here are amazing, and the manager (Sir Alex Ferguson) in the photo is the most important figure in the club's past and present. "We want to build our own moments, for ourselves and for United, and become successful again." A full house is expected at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil for the friendly, adding another chapter to the club's long-standing bond with Malaysian fans.
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Beckham and Neville refuse to copy Ryan Reynolds after buying out Man Utd icons
David Beckham and Gary Neville completed the takeover of Salford City this month, but their spending will be vastly different from the amounts Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds has put into his club Gary Neville has admitted that his and David Beckham's approach as Salford City owners will be different from that of Wrexham's high-spending duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The iconic Manchester United defender-turned-pundit completed a takeover of the League Two side earlier in May alongside Beckham as part of a new consortium that includes banker and LTA chair Lord Mervyn Davies and businessman Declan Kelly. Neville, alongside other Class of '92 icons Paul Scholes, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt, arrived at the club in 2014 and held stakes, and were joined by Beckham and billionaire Paul Lim in 2019. However, a new ownership group has bought them out after Lim's departure last summer, though the collective of other ex-Red Devils will still be involved with the club "across technical, football, commercial, recruitment and the SCFC foundation." Wrexham were not long ago battling it out against the Ammies in the fourth division after their meteoric rise under the stewardship of Hollywood star Reynolds and fellow actor McElhenney, but now find themselves Championship-bound. This has infamously come after a heavy injection of cash from their owners, who took over in 2021, though Neville has not promised such purpose or capital supply when it comes to his venture. "Me and Becks [ David Beckham ] decided that we would put money in for the next four or five years, which is a commitment we've all made. There's been quite a lot of money been promised over the next four years," admitted Neville, speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet. "[But] we won't change the budget, and to reverse out of the model we already have, you need two or three years. You can't just go from investing to becoming sustainable – you've got players' contracts for three years, and you've generally got a model that you've built which you can't get away from. "I think it's very different from Wrexham and Birmingham, where you're talking about hundreds of millions going into those clubs, particularly Birmingham. That's not what we're looking to do with Salford." Both Reynolds and McElhenney completed their takeover of the then-National League side for just £2million four years ago. However, this investment has since snowballed as the ambitious pair sought to raise their club through the English football pyramid, and did so. They were promoted to League Two in 2023 and League One in 2024, and now, in 2025, they'll grace the Championship after finishing second in an automatic promotion place behind Birmingham City. The Blues are another club that has seen significant investment from new, determined North American owners. Financier Tom Wagner, co-founder of Knighthead Capital Management, fronted a 2023 takeover for US-based Shelby Companies Limited and now acts as chairman, with NFL icon Tom Brady a co-owner. While Birmingham broke countless transfer records with their summer spending in 2024, including the £15m signing of Fulham striker Jay Stansfield, smashing the previous League One record transfer by roughly £12m, Neville and Beckham's Salford journey will not be one of such extravagance. "We want it to be a good football project," continued Neville. "The money we spent on our football club, we could have easily bought a League One club. The reason we didn't is that we wanted to build a football club from scratch. We had 100 fans at the time, Salford. "Every fan that comes to Salford we respect enormously, but they're there because of the things that actually we've done in the last 10 years, which is a great position as owners to be in. "We can't be accused of lacking spirit or fight or not putting money where our mouth is. We can never be accused of that sulphur because we didn't. We haven't got 10,000 fans that have been there for a long time that have an opinion that's based on the history."
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Beckham couldn't help making a cheeky comment as Gary Neville speaks out on Nottingham Forest's ban
Image: Instagram Neville banned from city ground as feud reaches boiling point A long-simmering feud between Gary Neville and Nottingham Forest exploded this week after the Premier League club banned the former Manchester United defender from attending their final match of the season, a high-stakes clash against Chelsea on May 25, 2025, that could decide Champions League qualification. Neville broke his silence on Instagram, revealing he had been blocked from commentating at the City Ground: 'I was contacted by Sky Sports earlier on in the week and told that I would be commentating at the City Ground... I was informed yesterday... that Nottingham Forest would not give me an accreditation or access to the stadium as a co-commentator. I've had no choice but to withdraw from the coverage.' He continued: 'I've dished out my fair share of criticism and praise in the last 14 years of doing this job and have never come close to this unprecedented action... I think it's disappointing that a great club like Nottingham Forest have been reduced to making such a decision.' Sky Sports responded by calling Forest's move 'unprecedented and unwelcome' and moved their broadcast to their West London studio. Neville also chose not to appear on the revised coverage. Beckham revives memories of 1999 Fuel was added to the fire when David Beckham, a close friend and longtime teammate of Neville from Manchester United's iconic Class of '92 — dropped a cheeky comment under Neville's post: 'Must of been something to do with that 7 - 1 game back in the day @gneville2 @manchesterunited.' Fans quickly corrected the typo — it was 8–1, not 7–1 Neville replied with a laughing emoji, keeping the banter light, but the reference struck a nerve. The post, humorous on the surface, tapped into deeper tensions tied to a historic thrashing. The 8–1 game: A humiliation that still stings Beckham's comment alludes to a Premier League match on February 6, 1999, when Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 8–1 at the City Ground, a record-breaking away victory at the time, and still one of the most brutal scorelines in Premier League history. It remained the largest away win in Premier League history for 20 years, until Leicester City beat Southampton 9–0 in 2019. Beckham and Neville both played key roles in that match, Beckham orchestrating the attack with his signature crosses, and Neville contributing from right-back with overlapping runs and defensive solidity. The match was part of United's legendary 1998–99 treble-winning campaign. For Forest, it marked their heaviest home defeat in Premier League history and contributed to a disastrous relegation season. Beckham's comment jokingly suggested Forest's decision to ban Neville might be linked to lingering resentment over that humiliating day. A feud years in the making: From mafia comments to medical outrage The friction between Neville and Nottingham Forest began long before the latest social media sparring. It's a feud layered with public criticism, legal threats, and mounting distrust, particularly involving Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. April 2024: 'Mafia Gang' Controversy After Forest issued a controversial statement questioning VAR officiating in a 2–0 loss to Everton, citing the VAR official's alleged Luton Town allegiance — Neville reacted sharply on Sky Sports: 'Like a mafia gang statement... embarrassing... a scandal.' The club responded with a legal letter to Sky Sports. In July 2024, Sky issued an apology, and Neville agreed to refrain from using similar language. Marinakis condemned Neville's comments as 'inappropriate' and 'harmful', and hinted at legal consequences. May 2025: Marinakis Storms the Pitch Tensions surged again after a 2–2 draw with Leicester City on May 11, 2025. Cameras caught Marinakis storming the pitch to confront manager Nuno Espirito Santo about the club's handling of striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who had collided with a goalpost and was later diagnosed with a ruptured intestine, requiring emergency surgery and being placed in an induced coma. Neville was scathing in real-time: 'What the Forest owner has just done on the pitch over at the City Ground is absolutely scandalous... If I was Nuno, I'd be going and having a very strong word with him.' He followed up on X (formerly Twitter): 'Scandalous from that Forest owner. Nuno should go and negotiate his exit tonight with him! The Forest fans, players and manager do not deserve that.' Forest issued a statement condemning 'baseless and ill-informed outrage,' saying: 'Let concern come before commentary... At Nottingham Forest, we believe the mental and physical well-being of our players and coaching staff must always take precedence — over media narratives, inflammatory judgements, and certainly over self-promotion.' They also denied there was a confrontation between Marinakis and Nuno. May 2025: The City Ground Ban The club then took the extraordinary step of banning Neville from Sunday's broadcast, citing fears that his presence would provoke hostility from fans. Sky Sports said the move was 'unprecedented,' and restructured its entire matchday coverage. Neville, notably, withdrew himself from the studio broadcast altogether. Libel Suit Ties Adding to the tension, Neville's name was cited in a £2.1 million libel lawsuit filed by Marinakis against two individuals accused of running a smear campaign. Though Neville was not directly involved, his comments were referenced in the broader context, adding another layer of animosity. 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Wales Online
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Wales Online
Mark Williams shows off impressive motor weeks after banking £200k at World Snooker Championship
Mark Williams shows off impressive motor weeks after banking £200k at World Snooker Championship Mark Williams was recently defeated by Zhao Xintong in the World Snooker Championship final, and the Welshman has demonstrated how he spent some of his prize money in the past Mark Williams has shown how he could spend his World Championship prize money (Image: James Baylis for) Snooker legend Mark Williams has demonstrated how some of his prize money may be spent after he made it all the way to the World Snooker Championship final. The 50-year-old defeated fellow Class of '92 member John Higgins in a nail-biting quarter-final before besting Judd Trump to reach the final. Williams is the oldest player to reach the world final at the Crucible, and has remarkably made it to the championship match in each of the last four decades. In the final, three-time champion Williams lost 18-12 to rising star Zhao Xintong. However, 'The Welsh Potting Machine' was able to console himself with a £200,000 prize as runner-up, and the snooker star has since shown how he spent some of his huge earnings in the past. Taking to X, Williams posted pictures of his black Hummer, with the caption: 'My beast is nearly ready. @RonSkinners doing all the work to make it mint. #thisthingdoesglllnspermile.' Despite his recent World Championship windfall, Williams later explained that he had bought the car before the tournament. Born in Cwm, the snooker icon admitted that the car had little trouble dealing with the Welsh terrain. Williams also owns a Tesla, and joked: 'I got one saving the planet and the other killing it.' His love for cars is evident, emphasised by his decision to promote a used car retailer in his social media banner. Article continues below Content cannot be displayed without consent Williams has accumulated more than £8million in prize money over the course of his long-running career. His world championship run has taken him up to third in the rankings, behind Trump and Kyren Wilson, and the Welshman was proud of his achievement at the Crucible. "It's been a brilliant tournament for me. The support I've had for the past two weeks has been unbelievable,' Williams told BBC after the final. "But what a potter Zhao is. 'I'm glad I'll be too old when he's dominating the game. I've got nothing but admiration for what he's done, coming through the qualifiers. He hasn't played for two years, bashed everybody up. There's a new superstar of the game." He added: "I'm still playing quite good stuff, even though my eyesight is a bit blurry. The reception I've had all week... but tonight was something special. When I was stood on the steps and they were all on their feet - it brought a tear to the eye. But the night belongs to Zhao and congratulations." Mark Williams congratulated Zhao Xintong on his 18-12 victory (Image: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images ) Article continues below Williams has outlined his intention to return to the World Seniors Championship next year, having previously won the title a decade ago. However, during his run at the Crucible, Williams admitted to having second thoughts about his scheduled lens replacement surgery, given the potential impact it could have on the rest of his career. "I have been reading up and talking to people who have had it done and I've got to be honest, it is putting me off a bit,' Williams explained. "I've got a big decision to make. 'A couple of people I have spoken to, especially Anthony Hamilton at length, have said it is no good under the lights and it has ruined his career. It has sort of put me under pressure. After this is finished, it is something I am going to have to look more into."
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
From Fergie Success to Doom and Debt
Manchester United once towered over English football, their red crest a mark of relentless victory. For decades, Old Trafford rang with the cheers of fans watching legends like Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, and Wayne Rooney carve out history under Sir Alex Ferguson's canny 'north of the border' guidance. They won a 'Baker's Dozen' of Premier League titles and a couple of Champions League trophies, each triumph cementing their place among soccer gods. But now, the Red Devils stumble, shadowed by massive debt and on and off-field mediocrity. The Glazer family's 2005 takeover and Ferguson's 2013 retirement set off a slow, painful decline, driven by financial strain and the impossible task of replacing a legend. GettyImages Back in 1986, when Sir Alex first walked into Old Trafford, United were a faded power, their last league title a distant memory from 1967. Over 26 years, he built an empire, breaking a 26-year drought in 1993 and launching an era of dominance. He had a knack for reinvention: Cantona's flair, the homegrown spark of the Class of '92, Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, and the Neville brothers, and later the brilliance of Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo kept United untouchable. His final flourish, the 2013 Premier League title sealed by Robin van Persie's unforgettable volley, felt like a perfect exit. Even after the Glazers' takeover, Sir Alex's touch delivered five more Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League. He was the club's heartbeat, hiding cracks that would become cavernous under lesser men. Advertisement The Glazers' $1.05 billion leveraged buyout in 2005 changed everything. It saddled United with $731 million in debt, a sharp turn from their debt-free days. Interest payments have since drained over $1.126 million—cash that could've strengthened squads or spruced up Old Trafford. The Glazers also pulled millions in dividends, a move almost unheard of among top clubs, while raising ticket prices to cover the debt. Fans fought back, waving green-and-gold scarves to honor United's pre-Glazer roots, but the financial weight only grew. The Scottish coach's success kept the damage at bay, but once he left, the Glazers' missteps showed in a transfer market ruled by deep-pocketed rivals like Chelsea and Manchester City. Losing Ferguson was like losing the club's compass. David Moyes, his chosen successor, buckled under the pressure, dragging United to 7th place in 2013-14. Since then, $1.9 billion in transfers has brought slim rewards: an FA Cup in 2016, a League Cup and Europa League in 2017, and another League Cup in 2023. A steady stream of unsuccessful coaching hires followed with more woeful transfer business, and that recruitment was tripped up by poor planning from executives like Ed Woodward, whose business acumen never matched football know-how. While United falter, their rivals fly. Manchester City, bankrolled by the oil money from Abu Dhabi, have snatched six Premier League titles since 2013. Liverpool, reborn under Jürgen Klopp, took the 2019-20 Premier League and 2019 Champions League. United, meanwhile, have missed the top four five times since Ferguson left. Old Trafford, once football's grand stage, now leaks, its aging stands a joke among rivals. The Glazers' $7.98 billion valuation and stalled sale talks, even with Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 2024 minority stake, leave fans stuck, their hope wearing thin. Manchester United's story is one of glory unraveled by the greed of the Glazers. The debt they saddled the club with choked a soccer titan, and Ferguson's absence left a club unready for football's new age. Old Trafford still holds its mystique, but until its owners find clarity, the Theatre of Dreams will stay cloaked in a shadow, and the dark clouds are a reminder that even giants can fall.
