Latest news with #NickyButt
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Rejuvenated Rangers aim for Hong Kong FA Cup glory to launch new golden era
Wong Chin-hung has challenged his BC Rangers players to launch a new golden era for the club when they go for FA Cup glory against holders Eastern on Saturday. Advertisement Rangers' dynamism in a 3-0 rout of Lee Man last weekend was testament to how Wong, one of Hong Kong's brightest young managers, has transformed a once flatlining team since taking over in October. He ripped up an all-attacking policy and his methods built confidence. His side can underline their revival in a Mong Kok Stadium final bearing special meaning for Wong, 43, who won the 2016 league as a player with Eastern, then began his coaching career there the following year. 'If we win, it would be an important moment in the club's history,' said Wong, a former left-back who won the 2011 cup with South China. 'It could make our future very different … we will play in AFC Champions League 2, so the board might invest.' Wong Chin-hung is becoming one of Hong Kong's brightest young bosses. Photo: BC Rangers Asked if that could mean a marquee recruit like his ex-South China teammates Nicky Butt and Mateja Kezman, Wong said: 'Nothing is impossible. This level of player has a great impact on the league … they share their experiences with teammates, and make their opponents pay more attention.' Advertisement Wong has aimed high since he pursued football against his parents' wishes. 'I was always getting injured, so they didn't want me to play,' he said. 'They never came to watch my games.'
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
‘Very different to Wrexham' – Gary Neville and David Beckham WON'T pour millions into Salford as they outline ‘project'
MANCHESTER UNITED legend Gary Neville outlined the plan he and David Beckham have for Salford City after their recent takeover of the club. Neville and Beckham, both 50, led a new consortium and gained control of the League Two side earlier this month by buying out shares from fellow Class of 92 icons Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Phil Neville. 5 5 The United greats have teamed up with businessman Declan Kelly and Lawn Tennis Association chairman Lord Mervyn Davies after major backer Peter Lim stepped away last year. The former England internationals have big plans as they are determined to get the League Two outfit in the Championship within the next five years. Ever since their arrival in 2014, Salford got promoted from the Northern Premier League Division One North to the EFL in five years, but they have remained in the fourth tier ever since. Neville told The Overlap Fan Debate, on behalf of Sky Bet: "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. "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 [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." Successful celebrity-owned clubs have risen to prominence in recent years and many are hoping Salford will follow suit. Wrexham have earned three successive promotions from the National League to the Championship under Hollywood celebrity owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. And Birmingham won the League One title this season and will join the Red Dragons in the second division with NFL legend Tom Brady as minority owner. However, Neville is adamant things will be "very different" compared to Wrexham and Birmingham. The Man Utd hero insists millions will not be poured but instead he and Beckham will focus on turning the club into a "good football project" that will be very close to the local community. Neville 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 - 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]." 5 5
Arab News
08-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Beckham and Neville part of new ownership group at English soccer club Salford
LONDON: David Beckham and Gary Neville are part of a new consortium to have taken ownership of English fourth-tier soccer club Salford City. The club were previously owned by Beckham, Neville and other former Manchester United teammates in their so-called 'Class of '92' — Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Phil Neville — along with Singapore businessman Peter Lim. A new ownership group, containing Beckham, Gary Neville and other shareholders from the United States, India and England, has bought Salford and have committed to 'invest significantly in the club, the team and their facilities,' Salford said on Thursday. Salford City announces that the Club has been acquired by a new ownership group led by David Beckham and Gary Neville, and includes US-based businessman Declan Kelly and Lord Mervyn Davies who will both serve as new Co-Chairs of the Club's board. — Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) May 8, 2025 Butt, Giggs, Scholes and Phil Neville are no longer shareholders but 'will continue to contribute to the next step of this journey with roles in the club,' Salford said. Beckham grew up in Salford and said he had 'such fond memories of my time living there and the place and its people played such an important part in my early life in football.' 'Salford City is at the heart of its community ... it has a rich history and I am delighted to be a part of the next chapter.' Beckham also is a co-owner of Major League Soccer club Inter Miami. Neville said the consortium contains 'a diverse range of minds and expertise, held together by a love of football.' 'Football will come first, however it's critical that we drive the club toward sustainability in the next four, five years,' Neville said. 'I can't wait for the next part of this journey.' Salford finished in eighth place — outside the playoff spots — in League Two this season. Beckham said he has been inspired by Wrexham's rise through English soccer under the ownership of Hollywood celebrities Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney since 2021. 'I'm not saying this is why we're doing it because it's not,' Beckham told The Athletic in an interview. 'But I've spoken to Ryan about it so many times now and he said the feeling around the city, the feeling around the club, is so exceptional. That's the kind of thing that we want to create.' Beckham added that the dream was to take Salford to the Premier League. 'But there's a lot of hard work and a lot of investment to be done up until that point,' he said.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Butt says Man Utd dream of Premier League title by 2028 'ain't going to happen'
Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt believes Jim Ratcliffe's grand plan to win the Premier League by 2028 has no chance of becoming a reality. Project 150 is the United co-owner's blueprint, which includes returning the title to Old Trafford within three years to celebrate the club's 150th anniversary. Butt, however said after a "disaster" of a season -- United are currently a lowly 13th in the table having lost 12 times in the Premier League so far this term -- that such an ambition was way beyond the reach of the fallen English giants. "That ain't going to happen. It's going to be a long way off," he told the Daily Mail. "I think even if you got David Gill (former chief executive) and Sir Alex (Ferguson) back there, it's going to be a struggle for a long time. We're at the bottom of the mountain and there's a massive climb to get up." United last won the Premier League in 2012/13 -- celebrated manager Ferguson's final season at Old Trafford before retirement -- and Butt, a former United Under-19 coach, said the club's wait to be crowned champions of England again could go on for a while yet. "Big clubs like Man United have done it before where they've had to wait so long. I don't think anyone's got a given right to win the Premier League." Butt's former team-mate Ryan Giggs was not quite as pessimistic, but said several things had to fall into place for United to enjoy a quick turnaround. "You don't believe it but it does happen," he said. "It happened to us before we won the league (in 1992 after 26 years) and it happened to Liverpool (who had to wait 30 years to end their title drought). "We do need lots and lots of players but you never know. It can happen in a short space of time, but you need a lot of things to go for you." Butt, meanwhile, said the club's controversial increase in ticket prices announced this week, as well as plans to move season ticket holders from seats near the dugout in order to sell more lucrative corporate packages were "punishing the wrong people", adding: "There are a lot of things I think they're doing wrong and it's sad to see. It's not the Man United that I know and loved." jdg/dmc
The Independent
21-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Ain't going to happen – Nicky Butt dismisses Man Utd bid to win title by 2028
Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt has dismissed Sir Jim Ratcliffe's ambitious plan to win the Premier League by 2028. Project 150 is the co-owner's blueprint which involves, among other things, bringing the title back to Old Trafford within three years to celebrate the club's 150th anniversary. However, Butt said after a 'disaster' of a season – United are currently 13th having lost 12 times in the league – such lofty ambitions were fanciful. 'That ain't going to happen. It's going to be a long way off,' he said in an interview with the Daily Mail. 'I think even if you got David Gill (former chief executive) and Sir Alex (Ferguson) back there, it's going to be a struggle for a long time. 'We're at the bottom of the mountain and there's a massive climb to get up.' United last won the Premier League in 2013 and Butt, a former United Under-19 coach, said there was a chance that drought could easily extend into a second decade. 'I would never be naive to say it won't take that long because big clubs like Man United have done it before where they've had to wait so long,' he added. 'I hope not but I wouldn't bet against it. I don't think anyone's got a given right to go and win the Premier League.' Butt's former team-mate Ryan Giggs was not quite as downbeat but accepts a lot needs to go right for things to turn around quickly. 'We're such a big club and had success for such a long time, you don't believe it but it does happen,' he said. 'It happened to us before we won the league (in 1992 after 26 years) and it happened to Liverpool (who had to wait 30). 'We do need lots and lots of players but you never know. It can happen in a short space of time, but you need a lot of things to go for you.' On the club's controversial price hikes and plans to move season ticket holders from seats near the dugout in order to sell more lucrative corporate packages, Butt added: 'They're punishing the wrong people to try and balance the books. 'There are a lot of things I think they're doing wrong and it's sad to see. It's not the Man United that I know and loved.'
