There's no doubt about it – scepticism is running rife at Moor Lane at the moment relating to the takeover by messrs Giggs, Butt, Scholes, Beckham and the Nevilles. While three lots of video cameras and a huge lensed agency photographer came to capture the start of the transformation of Salford City, fans are already beginning to question whether this is the Ammies' Glazer moment...
In the official match programme for today, while club Chair, Karen Baird, moved to quell doubts, writing that "I would like to reassure fans that we are keeping our name, Salford City FC, and will continue to play at Moor Lane…we will be doing everything we can to keep Salford's identity"…a few pages on things were less than rosy…
Paul Mac's `A View From The Crowd' page brought it all out into the open…
"Last week's…story…read more like an act of terrorism from the Gang of Five than a takeover of a small club by a group of multi-millionaires. The proposal to change the name of the club to Salford '92 was egotistical, the move to the white elephant AJ Bell Stadium suicidal…
"…Fears have been assuaged (for now) by the club stating there will be no change of name, colours or ground (for now), but the initial story left me feeling as helpless, unwanted and angry as a Ukrainian living in Crimea…regardless of any success, without your identity you have nothing…"
Meanwhile, on the pitch today there was no danger of any immediate success, former Ammies' favourite, Wes Bancroft coming back to inevitably haunt his old team with the first goal after only two minutes - poking the ball in the net after the Salford keeper, Dan Fradd, had flapped twice at a cross. 0-1.
Fradd made amends later in the half, saving with his legs in a one on one but, as Salford offered little up front, Bancroft nearly made it two, screwing a shot narrowly wide.
The Ammies roused themselves for a brief golden spell, Chris Williams just failing to lob the New Mills keeper. Williams was again involved moments later rifling a shot that the keeper palmed onto the post. From the rebound the keeper again did well to block Matty Purcell's blockbuster.
The sustained pressure on the New Mills goal finally told when, after a series of crosses, the ball fell for Dave Chadwick who slammed into the net from eight yards, wrong footing the keeper. 1-1
Unfortunately that was as good as it got for Salford City, New Mills making it 2-1 two minutes into the second half after the defence messed up, and then adding another in the 60th minute, a header from a corner. 3-1.
There was no reply from Salford, managing not a single noteworthy shot on target in the whole of the second half. With three games left, do the players know that they might not be at Moor Lane next season? Whatever, there was little heart on the pitch – and little euphoria in the stands…
The only chant of note was `We are tangerine…We are tangerine' in reference to changing the club colours. Fans are still waiting for an official denial on this one. Over to you messrs Giggs, Butt, Scholes, Beckham and the Nevilles…
Photos by Andrew Goudie
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