0:00:02 > 0:00:07This programme contains strong language.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09- Who wants a drink? - Hold it! Hold it, Sam!
0:00:09 > 0:00:12CHEERING
0:00:12 > 0:00:15Five of Manchester's most successful players
0:00:15 > 0:00:16have bought a football club.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24Salford City sits seven-tiers down from the Premier League.
0:00:24 > 0:00:25THEY GASP
0:00:25 > 0:00:28THEY CHANT: Salford, Salford. Salford.
0:00:28 > 0:00:29Hot chocolate's nice.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31It's a club that's falling apart.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33Centre forward or new toilets?
0:00:33 > 0:00:34LAUGHTER
0:00:34 > 0:00:35We need both.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37Come on, Salford!
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Relying on part-time players and coaches...
0:00:39 > 0:00:42Phil Neville's flapping cos we've got no balls.
0:00:42 > 0:00:43LAUGHTER
0:00:43 > 0:00:45..with a dressing room that's out of control.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48I would hold my hand up and say, "I've had a poor half."
0:00:48 > 0:00:49But I weren't shouting.
0:00:49 > 0:00:50You ARE shouting!
0:00:50 > 0:00:52I feel like going in and ripping their heads off, do you know that?
0:00:52 > 0:00:54CHEERING
0:00:54 > 0:00:58And die-hard fans who don't want change.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00These players are hard-nosed businessmen.
0:01:00 > 0:01:01They're used to getting what they want.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04It's not going to be the same ever again.
0:01:04 > 0:01:05It's too easy to go backwards all the time.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09With chaos on the pitch...
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Get the BLEEP out of my BLEEP way!
0:01:12 > 0:01:13What are you worried about?
0:01:13 > 0:01:15Losing!
0:01:15 > 0:01:17..and tough decisions in the boardroom...
0:01:21 > 0:01:24..the Class of '92 might just be out of their league.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26CHEERING
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Anything that goes wrong, we are there to be shot down.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34Why the BLEEP did we buy a football club? Why?
0:01:34 > 0:01:36LAUGHTER
0:01:49 > 0:01:51It's July at Salford's ground, Moor Lane.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57The local fans who keep the club going
0:01:57 > 0:02:01are getting ready for its 74th season.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03It's always like this when it rains.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05But now the club's under new ownership,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08and Gary Neville's come to look at what he's bought.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10So you put cones in now?
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Yeah. Just for the safety for today's game.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Why, do you think that's unsafe?
0:02:15 > 0:02:17I would say it's unsafe for today's game.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19I think we need to cordon that off...
0:02:19 > 0:02:21because it's crumbling away a little bit.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24- Are you thinking about people claiming off us?- Yeah.- You or me?
0:02:24 > 0:02:26Probably you.
0:02:26 > 0:02:27LAUGHTER
0:02:29 > 0:02:33Until the new owners bought Salford, it had been run by a committee of
0:02:33 > 0:02:3712 volunteers and kept going by an army of supporters.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47Been here for 26 years and... I enjoy it.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51It's all voluntary. It's all good for the club, I hope.
0:02:53 > 0:02:58Jim Birtwistle has been in charge of the turnstiles for four years.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00We just love it here.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03We come here whether we win anything or lose anything
0:03:03 > 0:03:05or...doesn't matter to us.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09But things are changing at the club Jim loves.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13It's our club because we've been here for years, but worst case,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16it's just going to turn into one big circus just like all these
0:03:16 > 0:03:18top football clubs. It's just a company then, isn't it? A PLC.
0:03:18 > 0:03:19And we don't want that.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24They've been doing things a certain way for a lot of years.
0:03:24 > 0:03:25And we've got to try and change something
0:03:25 > 0:03:26or there's no point in us coming in.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29It's what we change, when do we change it, how do we change it?
0:03:29 > 0:03:32And we also know along the way that there's going to be people
0:03:32 > 0:03:34that'll be upset and unhappy.
0:03:37 > 0:03:38What can we do about that?
0:03:40 > 0:03:43- So, these have been out of use, then, for a bit?- Yeah.
0:03:43 > 0:03:44Shit!
0:03:47 > 0:03:49- We need lighting and everything. - It needs more than lighting.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53I reckon it would be cheaper for us to just buy new toilets,
0:03:53 > 0:03:55don't you reckon? Centre forward or new toilets?
0:03:55 > 0:03:56LAUGHTER
0:03:56 > 0:03:58Er...we need both!
0:03:58 > 0:04:00LAUGHTER
0:04:00 > 0:04:02Des, are you all right?
0:04:02 > 0:04:04Sam? All right?
0:04:04 > 0:04:07- All right?- Edgie, you all right?
0:04:07 > 0:04:08Salford's manager,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11Phil Power, leads training after work twice a week.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13This is his second year in charge.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17I suppose we're on trial this season. Any football club
0:04:17 > 0:04:21when there's new owners, there is a possibility they want a new manager.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24It was brilliant when they said, you know,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27we're going to keep you in place, so it's down to us.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32Compared to last season it's... Totally different. Poles apart.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Phil Neville's used to football at a professional standard,
0:04:38 > 0:04:42having coached Man Utd and England under-21s.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46He's come down to see what his new team of 22 part-timers is made of.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Where's Chaddy? Has Chaddy got all the stuff?
0:04:51 > 0:04:55- The traffic's quite bad, to be fair. - Is it? The traffic bad?
0:04:55 > 0:04:59But half of them are late from work and so is Salford's coach, Chaddy,
0:04:59 > 0:05:01and he's got all the equipment.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Er...Phil Neville's flapping cos we've got no balls.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08LAUGHTER
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Yeah, don't worry, mate. Don't worry, pal.
0:05:12 > 0:05:13Punctuality's key for you, is it?
0:05:13 > 0:05:16Oh, yeah. It's my biggest bugbear.
0:05:16 > 0:05:17Ten minutes early.
0:05:18 > 0:05:19Ten minutes early all the time, you know?
0:05:19 > 0:05:21It's quarter to, you get here at 25 to.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25I know these guys are working, so can't moan.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27I mean, the lads are here.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30It's just the BLEEP coach isn't.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37Coach Chaddy finally arrives, but the session's half-gone,
0:05:37 > 0:05:39and so is the daylight.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Come on, Brownie, let's get going, eh?
0:05:42 > 0:05:44You've only got 30 minutes left in this light.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50I was working till... I came at 5:45.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52Come on, get to that ball, James!
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Some of us have proper jobs.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56We don't play golf all day, you know what I mean?
0:05:56 > 0:05:57HE SCOFFS
0:05:57 > 0:06:00SHOUTING
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Professionalism is... The detail at training...
0:06:03 > 0:06:06is turning up on time. So it was making me angry a little bit.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09But I think the frustration was that I couldn't do anything about it.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11Wasn't my job. I was an owner.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13I couldn't interfere.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15I think they don't realise after training
0:06:15 > 0:06:19we don't sit down and go through things, you know,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22we finish and then we're up and we go to work the next day.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24WHISTLE BLOWS
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Well done, good session, lads, good attitudes.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Manager in the back!
0:06:29 > 0:06:33I know a lot of premiership managers have limos and chauffeur-driven.
0:06:33 > 0:06:34I get in a One Stop Hire van.
0:06:39 > 0:06:40HORN HONKS
0:06:44 > 0:06:46Early in the season, the owners are learning
0:06:46 > 0:06:50that owning a football club is very different to playing for one.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52- COMMENTARY:- 'And Nicky Butt flying in with a header.'
0:06:56 > 0:07:02'Neville might just strike it here. Oh, I say!'
0:07:02 > 0:07:03They were at the heart of
0:07:03 > 0:07:06one of the most successful teams of their generation.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11- COMMENTARY:- Paul Scholes!
0:07:11 > 0:07:12What about that?!
0:07:12 > 0:07:16But these days, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Gary and Phil Neville
0:07:16 > 0:07:20and Paul Scholes are retired and face life after football.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25- COMMENTARY:- 'Still Giggs goes. He's through, he's scored. Ryan Giggs!'
0:07:25 > 0:07:29'Gary Neville looking for his first goal for Manchester United.
0:07:29 > 0:07:30'And what a time to get it!'
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Seared...beautifully.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37If you've had something that's so good,
0:07:37 > 0:07:38like standing in that tunnel walking out
0:07:38 > 0:07:40in front of 75,000 people, it's like...
0:07:40 > 0:07:43You've got to fill that hole with something,
0:07:43 > 0:07:45and it better be good, because that was good.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48The Class of '92 hope their latest adventure
0:07:48 > 0:07:50will be their greatest achievement.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53Because of the success that we had together we thought, well,
0:07:53 > 0:07:56- why don't we put this into business? - Back in a bit. See you later.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00Actually owning a football club in the town that we love so much,
0:08:00 > 0:08:02it was like a fairytale.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07We've always known what's to happen in football terms,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10or you have a good idea where you're at. We have no idea.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12We've got no... We are stepping into the unknown.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Mid-July.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Salford's new owners have called a pre-season management meeting
0:08:20 > 0:08:22with the club's chairman, Karen Baird.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24Right, go on, Karen, fire away.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Right, a bit of a...well, you might think it's a bit of an issue.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29I only found out on Monday that the two managers
0:08:29 > 0:08:31are off for two friendlies at the same time.
0:08:31 > 0:08:32One of them is the Bury game.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34It's quite a big game that, though, for them both to be away on,
0:08:34 > 0:08:38- isn't it?- And now they're bringing a proper team, aren't they, Bury?
0:08:38 > 0:08:40- Yeah, bringing a strong team. - Do they not speak to each other,
0:08:40 > 0:08:42- like, before they book their holidays?- Well, it's ridiculous.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44Phil said everyone knew when his holidays were.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46They need to take it serious, don't they?
0:08:49 > 0:08:52New owners have come in and you've gone on holiday.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Like, that takes some balls, that does.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56Once the season starts, that's it.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58You don't get a holiday till the following June.
0:09:00 > 0:09:01That's what we're used to.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04Right...good, that.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12£9, please.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14Cheers, mate, thank you.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18Saturday at three PM - match day at Moor Lane.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21- Thank you.- There you go, lads.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27- ALL:- Salford. Salford. Salford.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31Park my van, open the door, I'm watching the match in comfort.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34The kids can play as well.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38Today, Salford face a tough pre-season friendly against Bury FC,
0:09:38 > 0:09:40a team four leagues higher.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45- Two cups of tea and a hot chocolate, yeah?- There you are.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47- Do you know when you own a football club?- Yes.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49You've got to make the tea, you got to make the coffee.
0:09:49 > 0:09:50Yeah, but we don't do that here.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52I'm not as good as you, though, am I?
0:09:52 > 0:09:54No, you'll never be as good as me.
0:09:54 > 0:09:55Hot chocolate?
0:09:55 > 0:09:57With Phil Power on holiday,
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Phil Neville has been forced to step into his shoes.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02We need to hit this ground running because the teams
0:10:02 > 0:10:05we play at the start of the season will want to beat us.
0:10:05 > 0:10:06You know that, don't you?
0:10:06 > 0:10:09From now on, you are the prize catch in this league, so it starts today.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Hit the ground running, get your tackles in, get your shape
0:10:12 > 0:10:14when we lose the ball, and just enjoy it.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Good lads. Well done.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20Do you know, when I heard the other day the manager was going away,
0:10:20 > 0:10:22I thought it was a joke.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24I thought, "Dear me, did he not know we had fixtures?"
0:10:24 > 0:10:28We'd all like to be in Ibiza, but there's a pre-season game that
0:10:28 > 0:10:31we've never experienced, so this is something we need to learn,
0:10:31 > 0:10:33cos this is not the norm.
0:10:33 > 0:10:34Salford are in red,
0:10:34 > 0:10:38and look solid despite the shaky start to the season's preparations.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46Come on, smart it!
0:10:46 > 0:10:47'Pre-season's so important
0:10:47 > 0:10:50'because it sets the tone for the rest of the season
0:10:50 > 0:10:52'and I think this will be our biggest test and we'll get to see
0:10:52 > 0:10:55'today the level of players and the standard we've got.'
0:10:55 > 0:10:58We need to make a statement and we need to do that early on.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Today is the start of us hitting the ground running.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09Salford score, and hold on for a hard-fought victory.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Played one, won one. I'll retire now.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21Welcome to non-league football.
0:11:21 > 0:11:2415 players lining up for three cold showers.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26Brilliant.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29And then nine of us sharing one towel.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32We're all going to walk out of here with chlamydia.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35Welcome to non-league.
0:11:41 > 0:11:4534-year-old Gareth Seddon is Salford's star striker,
0:11:45 > 0:11:47and a male model.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50I came to Salford same as everyone else, you know.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52I got sold the dream.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57At £400 a week, he's one of the team's most expensive players.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02He's dropped down four leagues to play for the new owners.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04A massive draw for me was obviously
0:12:04 > 0:12:06working with the Class of '92,
0:12:06 > 0:12:08just being involved with them guys. They were my heroes.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12You always have to practise the 1,000-yard stare.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14So, say the camera's there,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17you've got to look 1,000 yards into the distance.
0:12:17 > 0:12:18It's like...
0:12:21 > 0:12:26I wanted to go somewhere where people went, "What a player he is."
0:12:26 > 0:12:29And I wanted to be, like, centre of attention.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33I wanted to be the number one striker and I wanted to win things.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36I can't really care about anybody else.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Oh, just creating magic everywhere today.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44Mid-August.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47It's all in the action.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49The start of the season.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56Fresh from his holiday, Phil Power is back in charge.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59His campaign for promotion has begun.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01Let's see how good we are, eh?
0:13:01 > 0:13:04I think we're good enough to beat these.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08Do not disappoint your team-mates. Don't disappoint yourself.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11And the owners are looking for their money's worth
0:13:11 > 0:13:12from their star striker.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15I think we always knew Gareth was a character before we signed him
0:13:15 > 0:13:19and we paid him more than we wanted to play players
0:13:19 > 0:13:20at the very beginning.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Gareth's not daft. He's been around the block.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25He knows full well he's got to deliver. What am I expecting?
0:13:25 > 0:13:28Goals, professionalism, good attitude.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30A leader in the dressing room.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33I must admit, honestly, I do get nervous before every game.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37I know I don't show it, but it's just...
0:13:37 > 0:13:39I don't know,
0:13:39 > 0:13:42I hate thinking that we're going to lose or I'm going to play crap.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46It just does my head in cos then it'll spoil my weekend.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48TOILET FLUSHES
0:13:48 > 0:13:49Wash my hands.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55Come on, Salford!
0:13:57 > 0:14:01Gareth, Salford's number ten, starts with a bang.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07In their first game against Scarborough,
0:14:07 > 0:14:09he scores a stunning hat-trick.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13And now we've got a dog on the field.
0:14:15 > 0:14:16HE LAUGHS
0:14:16 > 0:14:19And things keep getting better.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26I couldn't believe the start that we got off to.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28I think we won eight games on the bounce.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31THEY CHANT: Come on, Salford! Come on, Salford!
0:14:31 > 0:14:35You could see the buzz around the place. The players looked excited.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39It's one of Salford's best starts to a season.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47Salford are top of the league,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50and Gareth's delivering with goal after goal.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52Happy. Very happy.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55All right. Well done, lads. Well done.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59- How did you get in? - See that fence there?- Yeah.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02- There was dints on the other side. - And you just sneaked through?
0:15:02 > 0:15:06- Yeah, you can climb over it. - You owe Salford a pound coin.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09September brings the start of their FA Cup campaign.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13And even non-league teams like Salford dream of going to Wembley.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15It's going to be a battle again, innit?
0:15:15 > 0:15:17They are the league above. Let's test ourselves, eh?
0:15:17 > 0:15:21Their first qualifier is against Nantwich Town,
0:15:21 > 0:15:23tough opponents from the league above.
0:15:26 > 0:15:27It's the FA Cup and you want to progress
0:15:27 > 0:15:31cos each round that we progress, we will get more and more publicity
0:15:31 > 0:15:35and the club needs that to get Salford's name on the map.
0:15:37 > 0:15:38Yes!
0:15:41 > 0:15:44That's brilliant, that. That's brilliant.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Salford win, and if Gareth keeps scoring,
0:15:47 > 0:15:51they could even face a Premier League team in five rounds' time.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54One here, when he did his modelling for Next.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00Lovely picture, and we've got one of him here doing some modelling.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03His biggest fan is his mum.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07That's with his cousin Kirk.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09When they first started going out drinking.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12And how have you got so many photos of Gareth?
0:16:13 > 0:16:16Well, if he were your boy, you'd have them as well.
0:16:16 > 0:16:17Cos he's amazing.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22And one up here, when he played for England.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27I always say every week, "Have a good game.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29"Try and score for your mum."
0:16:31 > 0:16:34A week later, Salford face Ashton United away
0:16:34 > 0:16:36in the next round of the FA Cup.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40If Salford go through,
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Gary wants to add a bit of magic to their FA Cup campaign.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46He's got a proposal for Paul Scholes.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48PHONE RINGS
0:16:49 > 0:16:50It's me.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52What you think about playing for Salford
0:16:52 > 0:16:53in the FA Cup on 30th September?
0:16:53 > 0:16:56One-word answer.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04Go on, one game. I'll play if you play.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08"I'm fat as BLEEP."
0:17:12 > 0:17:13We'd get 2,000 in the crowd.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17It would create a bit of excitement, and everyone would see YOU play!
0:17:17 > 0:17:18LAUGHS
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Do you fancy it?
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Have a think about it. I'll ring you early next week with it.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27Good stuff. Bye. Bye.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33Ashton United's ground is an hour's drive from Salford.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35I think I'm going that way. I don't know.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38When he was a professional, Gareth would get driven to games.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40But now he has to make his own way.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Is it this right?
0:17:42 > 0:17:45No, it's not this right. It's not far from here.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47I think I should have taken that left there. You know what?
0:17:47 > 0:17:50The worrying thing is, I've actually been here three times.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56We're playing with two wingers, 4-4-2, up top Danny and Dale.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00Subs, Batty, James and Seds when he fucking gets here.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06They say it's fashionable to be late, don't they?
0:18:06 > 0:18:09I don't know if the gaffer will see it that way.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11Not happy at all. It ain't a lot
0:18:11 > 0:18:13to ask for people to be here for 1:30pm on a Saturday.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18If he can't make it on time, then the lads who are here on time,
0:18:18 > 0:18:22they will be selected for the team, which is the case.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26Directions to Ashton United Football Club.
0:18:37 > 0:18:38Hiya, pal.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42I think I've been dropped because I'm late.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46I should have fucking set off earlier. It was my own fault.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49- Gaffer, I'm really sorry for being late.- Seds, you're right.
0:18:49 > 0:18:50To be honest, mate,
0:18:50 > 0:18:53some lads are going to be five or ten minutes late.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56When it gets to two o'clock, mate, I've got to name the team.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58Like, I know, I know. Is Seddon late?
0:18:58 > 0:19:01- I'd have probably played him anyway.- I know.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Salford are playing in blue today.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11We know we've got to win this game today and get through another
0:19:11 > 0:19:15couple of games, which I'm sure will be difficult but...
0:19:15 > 0:19:17we're not far off.
0:19:18 > 0:19:19He'll be on soon.
0:19:21 > 0:19:22He will.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30I need to get on. Hopefully it will be 0-0 80th minute.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34Come on and get the winner. Then all will be forgotten.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38Salford score, but they can't get another.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44So Phil relents, playing Gareth in last 15 minutes.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51But it's Ashton that scores. The game will go to a replay.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56Bag of shit. What a bag of shit, ref.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00These lads have got choices to make.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03They're not sacrifices, as far as I'm concerned, they're choices.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06They either want to be professional, they want to prepare,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09they want to be fit, they want to be disciplined and turn up on time,
0:20:09 > 0:20:12or they don't want to be. The fact of the matter is,
0:20:12 > 0:20:15we are not going to tolerate the sort of latter.
0:20:17 > 0:20:22Hey. Hey! Fuck sake! Put your fucking flag up!
0:20:25 > 0:20:30A week later, Salford, this time in red, lose the replay 1-0.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33The club's FA Cup dreams are over.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Shocking game, really, mate. Shocking game.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50I kind of feel like I let my team members down
0:20:50 > 0:20:54and I let Gary Neville down because I missed the game.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56You know, I've dropped down five leagues
0:20:56 > 0:20:58because it is not just about money.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02It's not just about coming along, being part of a project.
0:21:04 > 0:21:05I want to make a difference, to be fair.
0:21:08 > 0:21:09Nice and slow.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14Off the pitch, there are changes at Moor Lane.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17The Class of '92 have given the club's volunteers
0:21:17 > 0:21:18funds for a makeover.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22Jim, a builder by trade,
0:21:22 > 0:21:26is renovating the clubhouse and the toilets.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29This is going to be the extension to the bar area.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31We will have disabled toilets,
0:21:31 > 0:21:33big doors and windows overlooking the pitch.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36It all means something. The stand means something.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38But he's not gone and pulled it down.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41He is sandblasting it and leaving it and making it nice.
0:21:41 > 0:21:47He is still leaving it as an amateur side, which is what it is. For now.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53But the owners have much bigger ambitions for Salford.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56What does the dream look like?
0:21:56 > 0:22:01New stadium, 25,000, playing in the Football League. That is the dream.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05It will cost us money, but actually it is so close.
0:22:05 > 0:22:06We are in control but we can do it.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10Every aspect of the club's finances are under scrutiny
0:22:10 > 0:22:12after years of a hand-to-mouth existence.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14Have we still got the dodgy Sky box?
0:22:14 > 0:22:16Yeah, I was going to ask you about that.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20It isn't going to look great, is it?
0:22:20 > 0:22:22Gary Neville of Sky Sports with a dodgy Sky box.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25I think they should give it you for free while you are on it.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29- What were we paying previously? - Nothing, we just bought it.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32- What do you mean? - There isn't a cost per month.
0:22:36 > 0:22:41- Right.- But it's what we do, then, have no Sky or pay the £600 a month.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Because my brother has got a club, I know that's what he pays.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47Right, let me speak to Sky. I'll speak to Sky.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51- We do need to get rid of that dodgy one though.- Yeah. What, immediately?
0:22:51 > 0:22:54- Well, it's illegal, isn't it? - I guess... Yeah, I think so.
0:23:02 > 0:23:03Since they bought the club,
0:23:03 > 0:23:06the Class of '92 have made other big changes.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10They redesigned the club's badge and, in a controversial move,
0:23:10 > 0:23:13changed the shirt from orange to red.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16For some fans, it's a hostile takeover.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18They might be legends of Manchester United
0:23:18 > 0:23:20and great players and all the rest of it but these days,
0:23:20 > 0:23:24these players - or ex-players - are hard-nosed businessmen.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26You expect it at a Premier League club
0:23:26 > 0:23:29when you get some bloody Russian oligarch in or someone like that.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31You don't expect it at little Salford City.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33As far as I'm concerned, it's arrogance.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36It's Premiership arrogance. They are used to getting what they want.
0:23:36 > 0:23:37See you, George.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43As feelings run high,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46the local paper publishes an article attacking the Class of '92.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52It compares them to foreign investors
0:23:52 > 0:23:53who are buying up British clubs
0:23:53 > 0:23:57and changing them beyond recognition.
0:23:57 > 0:23:58I feel like ringing him tonight.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02Is he here tonight? Will he be here tonight?
0:24:02 > 0:24:04I don't think he is here tonight.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06He has called us the Class of Vincent Tan.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12I don't know how many people make money from football clubs
0:24:12 > 0:24:14but it certainly won't be us.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21You know, it's not why we're in it.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24We want to try and do something with this football club.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32I hope we can create more good than things like this.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40The new owners have never denied
0:24:40 > 0:24:43they want to turn Salford into a big-league club
0:24:43 > 0:24:46and they are bringing in a new investor to help them.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50I mean, is it going to be announced or...?
0:24:50 > 0:24:53In the next couple of weeks. It'll obviously go through with the...
0:24:53 > 0:24:56We will make a statement because it will have to apply for the FA forms.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58Billionaire Peter Lim's stake is part of their plan
0:24:58 > 0:25:01to take Salford to the next level.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04But the owners know it could prove unwelcome news.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06If it was a local businessman, they wouldn't be bothered,
0:25:06 > 0:25:08but, with it being a Singaporean,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11I think it will just create a little bit of, "What are you doing here?
0:25:11 > 0:25:13"Are you up to something that we didn't know about?"
0:25:13 > 0:25:15- Trying to get the club as high as we can.- I know, but...
0:25:15 > 0:25:17- And we need somebody... - ..they might smell a rat.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19I'm not really bothered about the wider public,
0:25:19 > 0:25:21it's more the fans and the committee.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24We don't want them reading it in the sort of, the press the day after.
0:25:24 > 0:25:25"What's happened here?"
0:25:25 > 0:25:27So the committee in particular need to know.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29The fans we are thinking about,
0:25:29 > 0:25:30obviously the players and Phil and stuff.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33- But do you want to mention it to the committee?- Yeah, can do.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36I mean, it doesn't change our aims and aspirations for the club,
0:25:36 > 0:25:38really, does it?
0:25:38 > 0:25:40We need Peter to make that next step.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43If you want to just be a non-league team,
0:25:43 > 0:25:44we don't need Peter,
0:25:44 > 0:25:46but if we want to grow and grow
0:25:46 > 0:25:50and go as far as we can, then we need Peter.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54We knew that it would surprise everybody.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56We felt it was right for the future of Salford City.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59We knew we would have to face consequences of people's thoughts
0:25:59 > 0:26:00but then I am not worried about that
0:26:00 > 0:26:03because I know what is coming in the future
0:26:03 > 0:26:06so I am clean in the sense of where I think the club is going
0:26:06 > 0:26:09and what it will achieve beyond football.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14"Ryan Giggs and co's takeover of Salford City
0:26:14 > 0:26:17"boosted by billionaire Peter Lim, who nearly bought Liverpool,
0:26:17 > 0:26:20"signing up as joint owner of non-league club."
0:26:20 > 0:26:23He's from Singapore, isn't he?
0:26:23 > 0:26:25Why?
0:26:25 > 0:26:28Peter Lim is not going to put that cladding back on there for us,
0:26:28 > 0:26:29is he?
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Billionaire or not.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35The news is out.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42Gary is meeting with core fans to set the record straight.
0:26:42 > 0:26:43- Mr Lim?- Yeah.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46It's just not been mentioned. What's...?
0:26:46 > 0:26:48How do you see that fitting in?
0:26:48 > 0:26:49I'm not going to say "trust me"
0:26:49 > 0:26:53because the fact of the matter is you will only be able to ultimately
0:26:53 > 0:26:57answer that question in six, seven, eight, nine, ten years' time.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01The group of five had 100%, now the group of five have only got 50%.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04That's a big change, int'it? Do you see it as the...?
0:27:04 > 0:27:06We want to be a Football League club
0:27:06 > 0:27:12and it takes a lot of investment and a lot of business expertise.
0:27:12 > 0:27:13It's not easy.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15I don't think everything we have done has been perfect.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18At times things move too quickly. We just get on with things.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22We just do it. But I will be absolutely devastated
0:27:22 > 0:27:26if, along the way, we don't fulfil what we have said
0:27:26 > 0:27:30we will fulfil and take you on that journey in a good way.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36It's not going to be the same ever again.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38If you want big time, you can just go to Old Trafford.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40It's only around the corner.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42You can go to Man City, to Liverpool, to Everton.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44They're only around the corner.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50We knew things would change and that, but...
0:27:50 > 0:27:54Just this guy coming in, that's all.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56I just think there's too many clubs in this country
0:27:56 > 0:27:58owned by people like him.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02And it's just a big game to them, innit?
0:28:02 > 0:28:05It's like owning a nice big car, innit?
0:28:07 > 0:28:11I think it's just going to lose touch with the ordinary people.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Like every football ground, it will just be a PLC.
0:28:14 > 0:28:18It will be just a company and that will be it.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22It'll just change.
0:28:30 > 0:28:34Jim has got good reason to want to keep the club from changing.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37I used to like a good drink.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41I started on Mondays and Tuesdays, and before I knew it
0:28:41 > 0:28:44I was drinking for my breakfast. 16 cans a day.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48A couple before I went to work, a few at dinner.
0:28:50 > 0:28:52Just drinking constant.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57Jim gave up drinking four years ago and hasn't touched a drop since.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59As soon has he stopped drinking
0:28:59 > 0:29:01then he threw himself into the football club.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04That was the thing that changed him, the football club, I think,
0:29:04 > 0:29:07because it gave him a hobby, it gave him
0:29:07 > 0:29:10something to take his mind off just work and coming home.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13And the football club has just been absolutely, like,
0:29:13 > 0:29:14really good for him, really.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16And then obviously when the grandkids came along
0:29:16 > 0:29:19then that just added to it and he loved it even more.
0:29:19 > 0:29:23The boys on the turnstiles with him every Saturday selling the tickets.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28It's a good thing going to Salford City. You don't...
0:29:28 > 0:29:30Otherwise, I'd be sat at home,
0:29:30 > 0:29:33probably in the conservatory, having a drink.
0:29:33 > 0:29:37I'm enjoying every day. One time it was just a blur.
0:29:46 > 0:29:48Hey!
0:29:48 > 0:29:49Fucking hell!
0:29:49 > 0:29:50It's October.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52Ref! Hey!
0:29:52 > 0:29:54Salford are still top of the league,
0:29:54 > 0:29:56but cracks are starting to show
0:29:56 > 0:29:59since they were knocked out of the FA Cup.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02Edgie! Edgie! Edgie!
0:30:02 > 0:30:05The team, playing in white, struggle in a match
0:30:05 > 0:30:10against mid-table Farsley, and manager Phil Power snaps.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12Just pass the fucking ball back.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14- Huh?- Yeah, why did you just...? - BLEEP!
0:30:17 > 0:30:19WHISTLE BLOWS
0:30:19 > 0:30:20Calm down. Right, boys.
0:30:20 > 0:30:24Boys. What important is what happens in here. I can't gaffer this...
0:30:24 > 0:30:28The line is down there, the line is down there policing that,
0:30:28 > 0:30:30I'm watching what's on here and you're giving it handbags.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32Both of you, off you go. Both off you, go.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34Both of you go.
0:30:34 > 0:30:35Both of you go.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45Power is sent off and watches his team draw 1-1.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50I'm sorry. I apologise now for that.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58Match Of The Day studio is just here.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03The Class of '92 weren't at the Farsley game.
0:31:03 > 0:31:07After three months as owners, focus has switched back to their day jobs.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12- SUE BARKER:- Philip Neville!
0:31:12 > 0:31:13CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Paul and Phil have high-profile careers in the media,
0:31:16 > 0:31:20and Ryan and Nicky are full-time at Manchester United.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22When he offered me the job as assistant manager,
0:31:22 > 0:31:24it was just a great opportunity for me,
0:31:24 > 0:31:27so it wasn't as if I was finishing, twiddling my thumbs,
0:31:27 > 0:31:30"What am I going to do next?"
0:31:30 > 0:31:31He's got a proper job now.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34It's hard work, but I'm enjoying it.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37Also, I think if it was the other way round,
0:31:37 > 0:31:39if I'd finished and not done anything,
0:31:39 > 0:31:41that'd have been worse for you, wouldn't it?
0:31:41 > 0:31:44I don't think I'd have liked him at home full-time,
0:31:44 > 0:31:45he'd have drove me mad.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52Gary is on Sky Sports, and his role as England coach
0:31:52 > 0:31:55requires long-distance commutes to London.
0:31:55 > 0:31:56Come over here.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00Give me your coat.
0:32:00 > 0:32:05They can tell you my routine. Does Daddy pick you up a lot or not?
0:32:05 > 0:32:06Eh...a bit.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10Am I away a lot?
0:32:10 > 0:32:12Yeah.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14I don't think my wife would ever say "Enough is enough,
0:32:14 > 0:32:18"you've got to come home now," cos that's not real life, that, is it?
0:32:18 > 0:32:21Imagine if I turned down being the coach of England. No chance.
0:32:21 > 0:32:25It's an incredible opportunity and we look at it in that way, really.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28Or I do.
0:32:29 > 0:32:31I think.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33ALARM BEEPS
0:32:38 > 0:32:41Everything is structured around football.
0:32:41 > 0:32:43It dominates things you do at weekends -
0:32:43 > 0:32:46you can't just plan trips away and everything like that.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49So it still does kind of take over your life.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51Gary, I think his mum and dad would say,
0:32:51 > 0:32:54he's always been intense as a child
0:32:54 > 0:32:58and wanted to, you know, be the best, put everything in.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00I'm always thinking all the time.
0:33:03 > 0:33:08I get up at like 4.30, 3.30, 5, stupid times.
0:33:08 > 0:33:10Drives you nuts, doesn't it?
0:33:10 > 0:33:14He puts the iPod on. That's what drives you nuts.
0:33:14 > 0:33:15You see this light, you think, "Oh."
0:33:15 > 0:33:17You don't want to know what time it is.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20Things creep up on you, don't they? You've got to make more time.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22When I told Emma about Salford,
0:33:22 > 0:33:23you weren't that happy, were you, really?
0:33:23 > 0:33:26Sorry, you've never, ever said, "No, don't do something,"
0:33:26 > 0:33:30but on that one, you were like, "Why? Why something else?"
0:33:30 > 0:33:32I know what Gary's like, you see?
0:33:32 > 0:33:34He wants to be in control of everything,
0:33:34 > 0:33:37so I knew that he'd have to be there
0:33:37 > 0:33:39through all the decisions as well,
0:33:39 > 0:33:42so it wouldn't just be going to watch them on a Saturday,
0:33:42 > 0:33:44it'd be going to the meetings and chatting to the staff
0:33:44 > 0:33:46and making...all the rest of it.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49That's what I knew and I knew it was just another added thing
0:33:49 > 0:33:51that would take the time away from us, really.
0:33:51 > 0:33:55Some people say it's control. You just called me a control freak.
0:33:56 > 0:34:01But at a football team, at Salford, I like to be across everything.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03I like to know what's going on,
0:34:03 > 0:34:05because then I can make decisions and I can be informed.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08I can't do things half-roads.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11I will think I've been a failure if we don't get this right.
0:34:16 > 0:34:17I've had a think about things.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20What we saw on Saturday wasn't acceptable.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23Late October, Tuesday evening training.
0:34:23 > 0:34:25In the past four or five weeks,
0:34:25 > 0:34:28the only game we've shown anything like is Bamber Bridge.
0:34:28 > 0:34:30Other than that, we've been poor.
0:34:30 > 0:34:32Just one win in the last four games
0:34:32 > 0:34:36has brought Salford's winning streak to an end.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38When you're on good money,
0:34:38 > 0:34:40the pressure is on for you to perform every week.
0:34:40 > 0:34:44If you don't fucking perform, then it's not going to happen,
0:34:44 > 0:34:46and things will change.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49If someone ain't doing it, get them fucking told.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53If they don't like it, they can come off and fuck off somewhere else.
0:34:55 > 0:34:56Despite the drop in form,
0:34:56 > 0:34:59manager Phil is sticking to training as usual.
0:35:00 > 0:35:02I think he's going to make us run.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05So when all the lads are tired, we're going to run,
0:35:05 > 0:35:09which is good thinking, really.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11- What have you said? - I'm all right, yeah, I'm good.
0:35:11 > 0:35:12I'm very tired, gaffer.
0:35:12 > 0:35:14- You're feeling very tired?- Yeah.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17Fucking will in about half an hour's time.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26Fucking pisses me off. On Thursday it was the same, wasn't it?
0:35:26 > 0:35:28In training on Thursday.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31Played five-a-side for about an hour and a bit.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34Gareth isn't the only ex-pro in Phil's squad.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36Danny Webber used to play for Manchester United,
0:35:36 > 0:35:40and midfielder Jason Jarrett played for Wigan and Norwich.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46The biggest problem we've found this season,
0:35:46 > 0:35:50particularly with the likes of Gareth and Jason...
0:35:50 > 0:35:54you bring them down to this level, they still want to be treated
0:35:54 > 0:35:57and motivated the same way as what they did in league level.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59You need to handle these players like professionals.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01You need to challenge them.
0:36:01 > 0:36:05Cos we've come from, like, a higher level where we expect
0:36:05 > 0:36:11a certain standard of coaching, it just felt really non-league.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16Who said it? Who said it?
0:36:19 > 0:36:23I'll make 'em do a bit more. Called it lazy coaching.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25- Cheeky- BLEEP,- isn't he?
0:36:25 > 0:36:26- Cheeky- BLEEP.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34- What's that?- That's me celebrating.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41At 35, Jason is nearing the end of his career,
0:36:41 > 0:36:45and having to adjust to life away from the Premier League's spotlight.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49That's Daddy playing for Wigan, scoring a goal.
0:36:49 > 0:36:53He lives with his daughter India and his partner Joanne.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58They met when he was earning nearly £9,000 a week.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01You've had some really good times when you look back, haven't you?
0:37:01 > 0:37:02Yeah, definitely, yeah.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06- You've kind of had your midlife crisis, but early.- Earlier.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10Aston Martins and Range Rovers and stuff.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12Lost a lot of money on that, actually.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14Fancy clothes.
0:37:14 > 0:37:18Fancy clothes. Everything used to have diamonds on it.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22But since signing for Salford,
0:37:22 > 0:37:25Jason is now playing for a £300 weekly wage.
0:37:30 > 0:37:34What do the players say about the coaching?
0:37:34 > 0:37:35Do they say anything?
0:37:35 > 0:37:38Jarrett whinges constantly that he has to run too much.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41- What, in training?- Yeah.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44If he's said it, he ain't on his own.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48In pre-season when I went down, we went down quite a few times,
0:37:48 > 0:37:51they should have been working on pattern of play all the time.
0:37:51 > 0:37:53All the time. You can get your fitness work in that.
0:37:53 > 0:37:54But they were doing a lot of running
0:37:54 > 0:37:57and then they were doing five-a-sides.
0:37:57 > 0:37:59Yeah, which I think that's what they're doing more now,
0:37:59 > 0:38:01- to be honest.- It's a waste of time, Karen, they don't need it.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04Cos they're experienced, they know what they're doing.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07They win games cos they're better than other players at that level.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09Imagine if they were coached and actually put into a formation.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11We need to coach them properly.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24To survive in Salford, you have to be a fighter, you have to be strong.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28Phil Power is Salford born and bred.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31There's people who would say, "Oh, there's Phil again.
0:38:31 > 0:38:33"He's with a ball."
0:38:33 > 0:38:36They'd be up to no good and I'd be kicking a ball about.
0:38:36 > 0:38:40He's an ex-pro who used to play for Macclesfield Town.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43Salford City is his first job as manager.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48This used to be, like, our indoor pitch, if you like.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51This was our little Wembley at the time.
0:38:51 > 0:38:56Now Phil wants to deliver the promotion the Class of '92 dream of.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59I don't want to be a failure when I've got this opportunity.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03I want to make the most of it and take Salford to the next level.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06Go on, Danny.
0:39:06 > 0:39:07Oh!
0:39:07 > 0:39:09Despite their recent loss in form,
0:39:09 > 0:39:13Salford are still clinging on to the top of the table.
0:39:13 > 0:39:15Yes, Webbs. Go on!
0:39:15 > 0:39:17Webbs! Webbs!
0:39:17 > 0:39:19But the management and team, playing in red,
0:39:19 > 0:39:23are now under scrutiny from their bosses.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25We need to get back to winning ways,
0:39:25 > 0:39:28cos, at the end of the day, I'm going to be judged by results.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31They're going to score. They're going to score.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36Fuck.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42You do feel every kick. Every time the ball goes in, we're delighted.
0:39:42 > 0:39:46Every time somebody attacks our goal, we're worried.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48Erm...
0:39:48 > 0:39:51because it's our club.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56It's so poor, that. That is so poor.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59Give over, you clown.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01They're definitely on top.
0:40:02 > 0:40:03They're going to score again.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14Through November, results take a nosedive.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20Salford are hammered by mid-table Kendal Town.
0:40:20 > 0:40:24How are we getting fucking beat 6-0? It's fucking embarrassing.
0:40:24 > 0:40:26All of a sudden, the honeymoon was over. It's like,
0:40:26 > 0:40:28boom - back down to earth.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30Give over!
0:40:30 > 0:40:32Against Clitheroe...
0:40:32 > 0:40:35Not one of these players has got heart in it today, none of 'em.
0:40:35 > 0:40:37..they're beaten 2-1.
0:40:37 > 0:40:38We are playing shit.
0:40:38 > 0:40:42And even goal machine Gareth has stopped scoring.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45When we have the best players on the highest wage...
0:40:45 > 0:40:46Not a lot we can fucking say...
0:40:46 > 0:40:50..then we should be number one. We should be.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52Go on, Salford! Go on, Salford!
0:40:52 > 0:40:56- Back home against Harrogate Railway...- Oh, my God.
0:40:56 > 0:40:58..it's the same story.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04It's hard to watch. Three goals in ten minutes, there. Why?
0:41:04 > 0:41:06Are they better than us? No!
0:41:06 > 0:41:07Here we go, number four - penalty.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13Once I'd stopped playing, I thought I could relax on a Saturday night,
0:41:13 > 0:41:15but now we're involved in Salford City,
0:41:15 > 0:41:17I've got that feeling again like I used to do as a player
0:41:17 > 0:41:20where you go home and start sulking and lock yourself in a room.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23That's embarrassing.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25Harrogate Railway, 4?
0:41:26 > 0:41:30I question whether it matters to some of you like it matters to us.
0:41:30 > 0:41:33After riding high for the first ten weeks of the season,
0:41:33 > 0:41:37Salford have been knocked off the top spot and fallen to fourth.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44- What are you worried about? - We keep fucking losing!
0:41:44 > 0:41:46LAUGHTER
0:41:46 > 0:41:49The owners have called a crisis meeting.
0:41:49 > 0:41:52I think we were always going to suffer a little bit of a dip
0:41:52 > 0:41:53after the start we had
0:41:53 > 0:41:56and I think it's important now that we keep calm and don't panic.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58What do we need, a scout or a coach?
0:41:58 > 0:42:00- We may be on about bringing a coach in.- Definitely.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02I think Phil's crying out for a bit of help.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04I think he feels a little bit under pressure.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06Phil's desperate for help. He needs help.
0:42:06 > 0:42:08Are you not happy with the way we play?
0:42:08 > 0:42:10They don't look like a coached team.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12You could be right. I understand that,
0:42:12 > 0:42:14but let's just get through this season.
0:42:14 > 0:42:16Then maybe address that.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18Not address it halfway through the season,
0:42:18 > 0:42:20where a coach comes in and starts...
0:42:20 > 0:42:23"We're going to play this way and that way."
0:42:23 > 0:42:27It's how Gary played, his heart on his sleeve, and he wants to win,
0:42:27 > 0:42:29and if we're not winning, he wants to know why.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31I'm a little bit more laid back, but eventually,
0:42:31 > 0:42:33we need to do something about it.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35Without a shadow of a doubt.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38But not quite yet hitting the panic button.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54At Moor Lane, it's been two months
0:42:54 > 0:42:57since a Singaporean investor came on board.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01I don't think this investor is up to much, I think he's just going
0:43:01 > 0:43:05to sit at the back and throw some money at the club, I think.
0:43:05 > 0:43:09As long as they can let us still be a part of it, it'll be all right.
0:43:09 > 0:43:13Which I think they will. I was dead suspicious at first.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16Thought it was just a big ploy, me, but...
0:43:16 > 0:43:19Think it's turning out all right now.
0:43:19 > 0:43:21Jim's renovation work is nearly done
0:43:21 > 0:43:23and Gary's come to see the results.
0:43:25 > 0:43:29- Jim, are you all right? - How you doing, Gary?
0:43:31 > 0:43:34D'you know, I've not been in these toilets for three months.
0:43:36 > 0:43:37Whoa!
0:43:39 > 0:43:42What a massive difference that is.
0:43:42 > 0:43:44You'll get a few seasons out of these, now, won't you?
0:43:44 > 0:43:46If somebody comes in next Saturday
0:43:46 > 0:43:50and says, "They're great, them toilets", that's enough for me.
0:43:50 > 0:43:53If somebody comments on something you've done, that's a bonus,
0:43:53 > 0:43:55isn't it? It's great.
0:43:58 > 0:44:02Jim, one thing - never move my beam, my beam, there.
0:44:02 > 0:44:04That concrete beam.
0:44:04 > 0:44:06That is sacrosanct. That's coming with us...
0:44:06 > 0:44:08Do you want a cup holder on it?!
0:44:08 > 0:44:11That beam comes with us wherever we go.
0:44:11 > 0:44:12I love it. I just...
0:44:12 > 0:44:14I used to stand here...
0:44:15 > 0:44:18Feel like I'm away from everything.
0:44:18 > 0:44:22I actually love coming down here and standing here and watching
0:44:22 > 0:44:24and wondering are we going to win or not.
0:44:24 > 0:44:26I love it.
0:44:29 > 0:44:32The work he's done is unbelievable.
0:44:36 > 0:44:38We can't replace that, we've got to try and harness that
0:44:38 > 0:44:41somehow for the next 5, 10, 15 years - that passion
0:44:41 > 0:44:44and feeling that they have for the club that we could never even
0:44:44 > 0:44:47dream to have, having only just come in 12 months ago
0:44:47 > 0:44:49and I wouldn't even pretend to have it.
0:44:51 > 0:44:54The club feels like it would fall over without them all.
0:45:02 > 0:45:04Mid-November.
0:45:04 > 0:45:07Salford are away to promotion rivals Lancaster.
0:45:07 > 0:45:10They are still trailing fourth in the league
0:45:10 > 0:45:14and their star striker has only scored once in the last seven games.
0:45:14 > 0:45:17You do think you've let people down when you haven't scored.
0:45:17 > 0:45:19I always notice the Class of '92 and...
0:45:21 > 0:45:25It also puts a little seed in your head that if they're watching,
0:45:25 > 0:45:28you do have to raise your game a little bit.
0:45:28 > 0:45:30Just have a look around the dressing room here -
0:45:30 > 0:45:32we're full of talent, full of quality.
0:45:32 > 0:45:34But the last few weeks,
0:45:34 > 0:45:37our standards have dropped from the start of the season.
0:45:37 > 0:45:40Manager Phil is determined to end his losing streak.
0:45:40 > 0:45:45Today we're going with three lads up top - Seds, Webbs and Sam.
0:45:47 > 0:45:50Phil is leaving Jason Jarrett on the bench.
0:45:53 > 0:45:56You what? Your calf is a bit sore, put someone else on the bench?
0:45:59 > 0:46:02He thinks he's too good to be sub, obviously.
0:46:02 > 0:46:06It's funny, that. Even some games, Ronaldo's sub, isn't he?
0:46:06 > 0:46:11The subs being... Oh, it was Jason Jarrett, but he's been crossed off.
0:46:11 > 0:46:12Did he get injured in the...
0:46:12 > 0:46:14- Changing rooms. - ..pulling his socks on?
0:46:16 > 0:46:20But when the match starts, Jason's injury disappears.
0:46:20 > 0:46:23You said "Take me off the bench, my calf's sore."
0:46:25 > 0:46:28Well, maybe you should've fucking realised before you told me.
0:46:28 > 0:46:30My mind's on winning the fucking game,
0:46:30 > 0:46:32not your fucking emotions.
0:46:34 > 0:46:36Right, well maybe you're at the wrong place -
0:46:36 > 0:46:37maybe you're too big for us.
0:46:39 > 0:46:42I thought people was here cos they wanted to play football, so...
0:46:42 > 0:46:43If they don't want to play football,
0:46:43 > 0:46:45then they shouldn't be here, should they? End of story.
0:46:48 > 0:46:49Go on, Webbs - go on!
0:46:53 > 0:46:56Paul Scholes is watching his team today.
0:46:56 > 0:46:59The pressure is on Gareth to perform.
0:47:01 > 0:47:02He's running for every ball.
0:47:04 > 0:47:06And at last, he converts a chance.
0:47:11 > 0:47:12I'd say it's probably
0:47:12 > 0:47:1315 minutes now,
0:47:13 > 0:47:15we need to see this game out
0:47:15 > 0:47:17and make sure we get the victory
0:47:17 > 0:47:19we desperately need.
0:47:19 > 0:47:20Gareth's not done yet.
0:47:22 > 0:47:25Go on, Seds, go on, Seds!
0:47:25 > 0:47:28CHEERING
0:47:30 > 0:47:35Salford win 2-0, and manager Phil gets the win he needed.
0:47:41 > 0:47:44Gareth enjoys his Man Of The Match performance.
0:47:44 > 0:47:48It's just relief more than anything, isn't it? Isn't it?
0:47:49 > 0:47:51Jason never got off the subs bench.
0:47:59 > 0:48:04Think my problems started a few years ago when I was about...
0:48:04 > 0:48:0625, 26.
0:48:06 > 0:48:08Um...
0:48:09 > 0:48:12Obviously, it was linked to football,
0:48:12 > 0:48:14not achieving what I wanted to achieve
0:48:14 > 0:48:17and I feel like I was letting everybody down and stuff and...
0:48:17 > 0:48:19that kind of developed,
0:48:19 > 0:48:23it kind of led to severe depression and...
0:48:24 > 0:48:26It's only now, probably the last couple of years
0:48:26 > 0:48:28I've accepted that and...
0:48:28 > 0:48:30over the last 12 months I've, like,
0:48:30 > 0:48:32started to get a bit of help with it and stuff.
0:48:40 > 0:48:44Jason now attends weekly sessions with therapist David Wilson.
0:48:45 > 0:48:48I don't know if I told you, David,
0:48:48 > 0:48:49I didn't get picked for the team.
0:48:49 > 0:48:52- We'd got beat the week before, 4-1.- Mm.
0:48:52 > 0:48:54I should have been played the next game
0:48:54 > 0:48:57- and I kicked off before the game... - Right.- I proper kicked off.
0:48:59 > 0:49:01That was me leading with my emotions again.
0:49:01 > 0:49:04Swearing and having a go at him and stuff.
0:49:04 > 0:49:09That's definitely an opportunity to wait, think before you actually...
0:49:09 > 0:49:12- Yes, and the taking things personally, where we started.- Yeah.
0:49:12 > 0:49:13It wasn't pretty.
0:49:13 > 0:49:16My partner Joanne, she ended up moving out
0:49:16 > 0:49:19because it got that bad
0:49:19 > 0:49:21and that's when I kind of broke down
0:49:21 > 0:49:24and kind of spoke to my dad
0:49:24 > 0:49:27and a couple of family members and they took me to hospital.
0:49:28 > 0:49:31Um, and it just started from there, really. You know?
0:49:34 > 0:49:37When things started to go wrong in our relationship, I think
0:49:37 > 0:49:41he realised that he couldn't just rely on me, I can't make him happy.
0:49:42 > 0:49:45Depression is not a nice thing.
0:49:52 > 0:49:56For a while, I'd felt suicidal, I'd have to say, you know what I mean?
0:49:56 > 0:50:00I've gotten to the point where I was...planning it and stuff.
0:50:02 > 0:50:06When you go from living a life that's...
0:50:07 > 0:50:08You know, so good...
0:50:09 > 0:50:11..to losing everything...
0:50:11 > 0:50:12it's tough.
0:50:19 > 0:50:21Who's your favourite football team?
0:50:21 > 0:50:23Man United.
0:50:23 > 0:50:24GARY GASPS
0:50:24 > 0:50:26Not Salford?
0:50:28 > 0:50:29Who's your favourite player?
0:50:29 > 0:50:32- Scholesy.- Scholesy?
0:50:32 > 0:50:33He doesn't play any more.
0:50:36 > 0:50:39Salford are playing tonight against Warrington
0:50:39 > 0:50:42so I came back just to watch this tonight, really, and see these two.
0:50:42 > 0:50:45I always want my best years to be after I finished playing football.
0:50:45 > 0:50:48I'm gutted if we're not achieving things
0:50:48 > 0:50:50and we're not looking back on this in 15 years
0:50:50 > 0:50:53and thinking it's one of our greatest ever achievements
0:50:53 > 0:50:56and one of the best things that we ever did.
0:51:00 > 0:51:03- CROWD CHANTS:- Come on, Salford!
0:51:06 > 0:51:12Late November - Salford, playing in red, play Warrington at home.
0:51:12 > 0:51:15After their win last week at Lancaster, they've moved up
0:51:15 > 0:51:19to third in the league, two places off automatic promotion.
0:51:19 > 0:51:21Don't take him down.
0:51:21 > 0:51:24Phil's got Jason on the bench again.
0:51:26 > 0:51:27Help him.
0:51:34 > 0:51:37Salford take an early 1-0 lead, but Gary's unimpressed.
0:51:37 > 0:51:38Aaron!
0:51:40 > 0:51:43Then, 42 minutes into the game, Warrington take the lead.
0:51:43 > 0:51:48Honestly, it's shocking. We're creating our own problems.
0:51:48 > 0:51:51I thought of going in and ripping their heads off, do you know that?
0:51:51 > 0:51:53- Do you?- Yeah, I thought it.
0:51:54 > 0:51:57CHEERING
0:51:57 > 0:52:00Have we scored?
0:52:00 > 0:52:04Just before half-time, Salford steal a goal back to equalise.
0:52:07 > 0:52:10Lads, why are we playing offside?
0:52:10 > 0:52:13Don't just stop - appeal, and stay with your man.
0:52:13 > 0:52:16'My instinct was just go in and listen.'
0:52:16 > 0:52:19I felt like strangling them, but I never would have done.
0:52:19 > 0:52:22We've not said we're going to do that, anyway.
0:52:22 > 0:52:25THEY BICKER
0:52:25 > 0:52:29'Everyone was shouting and talking'
0:52:29 > 0:52:31and I was thinking, "Machine gun."
0:52:31 > 0:52:33'I was fuming, really.'
0:52:34 > 0:52:37Players don't hold court in dressing rooms.
0:52:37 > 0:52:38The space is that wide.
0:52:38 > 0:52:40You're saying you're coming inside, turn out,
0:52:40 > 0:52:42Sam, you stay out wide, you stay out wide...
0:52:42 > 0:52:46And Seddon stands up and I'm thinking, "He's like Obama!"
0:52:46 > 0:52:50You'd think he was the president of Salford.
0:52:50 > 0:52:52We've got to try and get a midfielder to come
0:52:52 > 0:52:54and show to the full-back three things -
0:52:54 > 0:52:57take them three things into the second half, we'll win the game.
0:52:57 > 0:52:59There were some powerful characters in that dressing room
0:52:59 > 0:53:02and you can see how they could be difficult to manage.
0:53:02 > 0:53:04Hey, but we've dragged ourselves back, haven't we?
0:53:04 > 0:53:07We are right back in it now. Well done, Martin.
0:53:07 > 0:53:09But there seemed to be a lack of control.
0:53:09 > 0:53:11'It seemed a bit of a mess, to be honest with you.'
0:53:11 > 0:53:13Aargh!
0:53:16 > 0:53:17'You can blame the players,'
0:53:17 > 0:53:19but sometimes you need someone to crack the whip,
0:53:19 > 0:53:22you need someone to set the tone and that comes from the manager.
0:53:22 > 0:53:25So when you start losing games, when you're not winning...
0:53:25 > 0:53:27In the back! Hey!
0:53:27 > 0:53:30..then you have some serious thinking to do.
0:53:30 > 0:53:33It's a 2-2 draw.
0:53:35 > 0:53:39Despite the poor performance, Phil still feels he can deliver.
0:53:42 > 0:53:46I know we need to get winning again, as quickly as possible.
0:53:48 > 0:53:53But at the minute, I don't think there's a crisis. I don't think...
0:53:55 > 0:53:59I'm not panicking. Obviously, I'm not happy, but I'm not panicking.
0:53:59 > 0:54:02I know the worst that can happen is I can get sacked
0:54:02 > 0:54:05and, like I said, that's the worst that can happen.
0:54:10 > 0:54:15New Year's Day - the owners have come to watch Salford, in white,
0:54:15 > 0:54:18losing to fourth-placed Droylsden.
0:54:18 > 0:54:22'This Droylsden game, I thought we were a shambles.
0:54:22 > 0:54:24'I just kept looking at the players we had on the pitch,'
0:54:24 > 0:54:27thinking, "How are we producing performances like this?"
0:54:27 > 0:54:29'Alarm bells are ringing, really.
0:54:29 > 0:54:31'Every time we went to watch,
0:54:31 > 0:54:33'we were never really convinced by the performance.'
0:54:33 > 0:54:36We're coming away from every game, thinking, "I like that player,"
0:54:36 > 0:54:38but it was always players from the other team.
0:54:38 > 0:54:41'I don't think they had better individuals.
0:54:41 > 0:54:43'They looked like a better team.'
0:54:44 > 0:54:47They're dropping in and they're not going with them.
0:54:47 > 0:54:50'When people think of the great Man United team,
0:54:50 > 0:54:54'they think togetherness, spirit, attitude.'
0:54:54 > 0:54:57Well, the team I was looking at at Droylesden was totally the opposite.
0:55:03 > 0:55:04Oh, fuck off!
0:55:04 > 0:55:06'You could smell that it was an unhappy camp.'
0:55:06 > 0:55:11They weren't playing for Phil. They'd stopped playing for Phil.
0:55:11 > 0:55:15Salford lose 3-2 to a team they should expect to beat.
0:55:15 > 0:55:17It weren't so much the results we were getting,
0:55:17 > 0:55:19it was more the way we were playing.
0:55:26 > 0:55:27I think, out of all the lads,
0:55:27 > 0:55:31I've probably worked closely with Phil and I spoke to him yesterday
0:55:31 > 0:55:34and I genuinely have a lot of feeling for the man
0:55:34 > 0:55:36and this is a really difficult thing to do,
0:55:36 > 0:55:39but I don't think performances have been up to scratch.
0:55:47 > 0:55:50'It was a mess. It was a mess.'
0:55:50 > 0:55:52It was like being on the roundabout, spinning,
0:55:52 > 0:55:55and you think, "Is it the right thing to sack a manager?"
0:55:55 > 0:55:56It doesn't feel right,
0:55:56 > 0:55:58but it didn't feel right, what was happening.
0:56:04 > 0:56:09I played under the same manager for 23, 24 years,
0:56:09 > 0:56:14so then I'm going against everything that was successful in my career.
0:56:34 > 0:56:36OK. See you, lads.
0:56:36 > 0:56:37Bye-bye, see you tomorrow.
0:56:42 > 0:56:43Oh, dear.
0:56:46 > 0:56:49Obviously, I've been sacked and, er...
0:56:50 > 0:56:54..I'm a little bit disappointed cos I thought I'd done a good job.
0:56:54 > 0:56:58It's frustrating because I'm convinced Salford are going
0:56:58 > 0:57:02to get promoted, whether that's automatic or through the play-offs.
0:57:07 > 0:57:10The first six months was like being in kindergarten.
0:57:10 > 0:57:13I thought we were rubbish. I look back at me now,
0:57:13 > 0:57:16I thought I was a bad owner in that first six months.
0:57:22 > 0:57:25It's all change at Salford City.
0:57:25 > 0:57:28Don't give them a fucking minute from minute fucking one!
0:57:28 > 0:57:31The team's new managers are two of the league's toughest men.
0:57:31 > 0:57:33That, mate, is an embarrassment of a performance.
0:57:35 > 0:57:38They are aggressive and very close to crossing that line.
0:57:38 > 0:57:43The Class of '92 give a young talent the chance of a lifetime.
0:57:43 > 0:57:46They said I'm going to go training with United tomorrow.
0:57:46 > 0:57:49Sometimes you get a gut feeling on a player and I had it.
0:57:49 > 0:57:52But, with just 13 games to save the season,
0:57:52 > 0:57:55the players are partying hard...
0:57:59 > 0:58:02I looked over and I thought, "They're all drinking. Oh, no."
0:58:02 > 0:58:05..and falling apart on the pitch.
0:58:08 > 0:58:10That's not great, is it?
0:58:10 > 0:58:13I kept saying to Scholesy, to Phil, "That will cost us the league.
0:58:13 > 0:58:15"That will cost us the league."