Latest news with #Consello
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Gary Neville reveals his and David Beckham's plans for Salford City - and what makes them different from Wrexham
Gary Neville has opened up on the plans he and David Beckham have for Salford City after completing their takeover of the club. Beckham and Neville led a new consortium that gained control of the League Two outfit earlier this month, buying out their former Class of 92 team-mates Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Phil Neville after major backer Peter Lim stepped away from his ownership position last year. The Class of 92s arrival in 2014 had previously taken Salford from the Northern Premier League Division One North to the EFL in five years, but they have remained in League Two ever since - and finished eighth this season. Beckham and Neville will be joined in their ownership by Declan Kelly, founder of US-based advisory firm Consello, and Lord Mervyn Davies, chairman of the Lawn Tennis Association. The new group are targeting Championship football within five years. They have already made a splash, with Salford, who are managed by Karl Robinson, releasing 17 players in a brutal reshuffle after missing out on the play-offs. And, speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet, Neville gave further insight on the plans he and Beckham have for the club. 'Shares in a football club for most owners, other than the passion and the feelings you get from it, you're a reliability from an investment perspective more than an asset, Neville said. 'We've put money into Salford and in January we just thought we needed to get a group of people involved, who we could trust. 'Me and Becks [David Beckham] agreed that we would put money in for the next four or five years, which is a commitment we've all made. 'Salford City won't be changing the budget – to reverse out of the model we already have, you need two or three years. 'You can't go from investing to becoming sustainable that quick – you need to look at players contracts for three years and you've generally got a model that you've built which you can't come away from.' A high profile ownership group is not new, with other examples like Wrexham and Birmingham prominent in the EFL over recent times. Wrexham have earned three successive promotions from the National League to the Championship under celebrity backers Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, while the Blues - where NFL icon Tom Brady is a minority owner - romped to the League One title this season and have ambitious plans for the future. However, Neville claimed his group would be different and also insisted that supporting the local community would be a key part of their aims. The Manchester United legend added: 'We just need to change the model of the club slightly, in fact quite a bit. It's very different than Wrexham and Birmingham [City] - you're talking about millions going into those clubs. 'That's not what we're looking to do with Salford. We want Salford to be a good football project. 'Salford City has the cheapest ticket prices in the EFL. On day one, I committed to the fans that we would be the most affordable and accessible football club. I'd rather go down than do that [be unsustainable].' Meanwhile, Neville has occasionally faced criticism for the lack of progress at Salford in recent times, with The Ammies having been stuck in League Two for the past six years. During that time, Salford have only qualified for the play-offs on one occasion, and they have never finished higher than seventh, yet Neville defended his record. 'The money we have spent on our football club [Salford City] we could have easily bought a League One club,' Neville explained. 'The reason we didn't is, we wanted to build a football club from scratch. They had 100 fans at the time. 'Every fan that comes to Salford we respect enormously but they are there because of the things that we've done in the last ten years, which is a great position for us as owners to be in. 'We can't be accused of lacking spirit, fight, or putting money where our mouths is. 'We can never be accused of that at Salford because we haven't got 10,000 fans that have been there for a long time that have an opinion that's based on history.'
Belfast Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Dress to impress (and for charity) with one-day-only designer deals deal
It's all happening tomorrow, when Consello Belfast takes over Cancer Focus NI's Holywood charity shop for one dazzling day of fashion, fundraising and feel-good vibes. As part of the Charity Shops' Challenge, the leading comms and advisory firm is turning retail warriors, filling shelves with luxury labels and styling rails with show-stopping outfits. Their mission? To help shoppers look fabulous for less — and raise vital funds for local people affected by cancer. Consello's in-house style guru will be on hand to show you how to 'Dress to Impress' without breaking the bank. There's a stunning silver metallic Kevin Jon designer dress up for grabs — brand new with its original tags — as well as other classic brands including Jigsaw, Coach and Massimo Dutti. Whether you're suiting up for a job interview or hunting for that perfect wedding-guest ensemble, this is your chance to bag high-end fashion at thrift-store prices. Even casual-chic fans can expect timeless staples and one-off pieces to elevate everyday wardrobes. Expect racks of ready-to-wear glamour in all shapes and sizes — perfect for work, weddings or a weekend out. In keeping with Consello's 'Dress to Impress' theme, there's something for everyone, from bold statement pieces to classic investment buys. And every item sold helps fund life-changing services including counselling, bra and swimwear fitting and family support for people living with cancer across Northern Ireland. Consello is one of several companies swapping desks for donation tills in this unique initiative, organised by Business in the Community, which invites organisations to run a Cancer Focus NI shop for the day. 'We're proud to support Cancer Focus NI and shine a light on the incredible work they do,' said Jonathan Ireland, Managing Director, Consello Ireland. 'Getting involved in the Charity Shops' Challenge is a natural extension of our commitment to community and corporate social responsibility.' With Consello Ireland CEO Katie Doran also sitting on the board of Business in the Community, the firm's community ties run deep - and this event is just one of many ways they give back. Richard Spratt, Chief Executive of Cancer Focus NI, said he's excited to see what the teams deliver. 'Thanks to Consello and every business taking part — you're not just raising money, you're raising hope,' he said. 'Every single penny will stay here in Northern Ireland to fund vital support services for local people affected by cancer.'
Belfast Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Running for others' lives in Holywood
Led by Reset Run Club's Lauren Clarke, participants followed a bespoke route in support of the local cancer charity, raising £225. Lauren, a well-known Northern Ireland fitness influencer, said it was 'fantastic' to see such a strong turnout at 10am on a Sunday in May. Consello senior consultant Anna Haslett, who organised the event as part of the company's fundraising efforts for Cancer Focus NI, said: 'I'm delighted with the support and proud to be part of such a fun event for a very meaningful cause.' Earlier this month, another senior consultant, Nicola Wylie from Consello's Belfast team, organised a pub quiz at the Comber Rec Football Club raising £1,100 for the same charity. Both events form part of a wider fundraiser that culminates this Friday with the Big Shops' Challenge. This unique initiative, organised by Business in the Community (BITC), invites Northern Ireland businesses to run a Cancer Focus shop for the day.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
David Beckham and Gary Neville swing the axe as Salford City release SEVENTEEN players - just days after completing takeover
Salford City have announced that they have released 17 players just days after David Beckham and Gary Neville finalised their takeover of the club. United legends Beckham and Neville are leading a new ownership group at Salford, with Paul Scholes, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs stepping away from the club. The group of former United players owned 60 per cent of the club but Scholes, Phil Neville, Butt and Giggs have now given up their shares. Butt is no longer at the club but Scholes will continue to advise on player trading and Giggs will do likewise on football matters. Beckham and Neville will be joined in their ownership by Declan Kelly, founder of U.S.-based advisory firm Consello, and Lord Mervyn Davies, chairman of the Lawn Tennis Association. The new ownership group at United are targeting Championship football within five years for Salford, who finished in eighth place in League Two this season. Thee have been significant changes with regards to the playing staff, with a host of individuals set to depart. PLAYERS RELEASED BY SALFORD Ryan Watson Matthew Lund Jon Taylor Conor McAleny Jez Davies Liam Shephard Marcus Dackers Callum Morton James Carr Ben Collins Liam Humbles Sandro Da Costa Jacob Hamman Eze Bowen Matty Cucos Aiden Lancaster Kamoy McNair Midfielder Matthew Lund, who had been working as a player-coach, is amongst those set to leave, with Conor McAleny, who started his career at Everton, also departing. Liam Shephard and Ryan Watson will also leave. Other players let go include Jon Taylor, Jez Davies, Marcus Dackers, Callum Morton, James Carr, Ben Collins, Liam Humbles, Sandro Da Costa, Jacob Hamman, Eze Bowen, Matty Cucos, Aiden Lancaster and Kamoy McNair. Meanwhile, Salford have activated their options to retain the services of Ossama Ashley, Haji Mnoga and Luke Garbutt. Salford have offered new contracts to Jamie Jones, Curtis Tilt, Tosin Olopade, Hakeeb Adelakun, Jai Curran-Nicholls, Alfie Henderson and Jacob Lara. Tom Edwards, Kevin Berkoe, Cole Stockton, Kelly Nmai, Ben Woodburn, Dan Chesters, Junior Luamba, Rosaire Longelo, Josh Austerfield and Robbie Cleary all remain under contract. Beckham and Neville are eager to replicate the success of Wrexham, who have earned promotion to the Championship under the ownership of Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.
Glasgow Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Gary Neville will not be getting carried away following Salford takeover
The club announced on Thursday that Neville and his former Manchester United team-mate David Beckham were members of a new ownership consortium. Beckham has already spoken about dreaming big to ultimately reach the Premier League, and comparisons have already been drawn between the new set-up at Salford and Wrexham under the ownership of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who have achieved three successive promotions to reach the Championship. Neville though says everyone connected to the new ownership is being realistic about how tough the challenge ahead will be. 'I don't want to get too carried away because I know how bloody hard League Two is,' he told the PA news agency. 'We have stabilised in League Two – and that's probably being economical with the truth. 'I am not going to sit here and say 'we're going to be in the Champions League in the next 10 years', or 'we're going to be in the Premier League'. We have to make sure we pay all our attention to League Two and the brilliant league that that is. 'I don't want to talk too much about ambition at this point. There is an ambition. There is a real determined group of people who've come in, but we have to keep our feet on the ground.' Beckham first invested in Salford in January 2019, joining former 'Class of 92' team-mates Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt as a shareholder. Gary Neville bought out the stake of former co-owner Peter Lim last August. Paul Scholes, left, and Nicky Butt will continue to have roles to play at Salford despite no longer being shareholders (Martin Rickett/PA) The club confirmed on Thursday that Phil Neville, Scholes, Giggs and Butt were no longer shareholders but would still be contributing to the club in other roles as before, with Scholes working on recruitment and Giggs having a role on the football side and on the club's foundation board. The new ownership group was formed with participation from the advisory and investment firm Consello, whose founder and chief executive Declan Kelly will be a co-chair on the Salford board along with Lord Mervyn Davies, chair of Consello's advisory board. Neville became the latest big name to link up with Consello in March last year, with former NFL quarterback Tom Brady among a group of sports stars working with the firm. Wrexham's increased overseas appeal since their Hollywood takeover helped them achieve revenue of £26.7million in the 2023-24 period, up 155 per cent on the previous year. Beckham and Neville have already stressed that the Wrexham blueprint cannot be followed to the letter at Salford, but generating commercial revenue to drive investment in the team will clearly be a priority. 'We've found it difficult with the sort of budgets that we've had in the last five years (so) we've got to ask about how we do things differently next season to ensure that the money that we're spending on the first team and in other parts of the club are spent in the best way,' he said. Gary Neville says David Beckham, right, will be 'more involved' than he previously has been at Salford (Peter Byrne/PA) 'We want this club to be sustainable in a four or five-year period, which means we have to grow revenues while still being accessible to fans, that's the most important thing.' Beckham's celebrity appeal is likely to assist with raising the club's profile, with Neville admitting the former England captain was likely to be 'more involved than he has been' since joining his Class of 92 team-mates as a shareholder in January 2019. However, he insisted that did not yet extend to a conversation about Salford going up against Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer club he co-owns. 'I've not spoken to him about a US tour or playing against Inter Miami, I really haven't – that's something that really hasn't been a priority. In the last few months, we've been prioritising making sure Salford City have the next four or five years looked after.'
