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Did Salford 'buy' the league?

Another club in Greater Manchester has been accused of buying the league: Salford City. Accrington Stanley supremo Andy Holt has even accused them of trying to steal a place in the Football League. Gary Neville has referred to 'a level of ferocity towards us on social media.'

My first comment would be that perhaps it's time to wake up and smell the coffee. Money was important in football before the advent of the Premier League in 1992 which is now portrayed as a kind of football AD (or CE to use modern terminology). The sums have become bigger, and there is more global sourcing of funds, but money has always talked.

The Ammies have won four promotions in just five seasons. They are the first club to bounce straight through the top tier of the non-league pyramid, having won the National League North last season.

The Class of '92 owners (the Neville brothers, Ryan Gigegs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and now David Beckham) have insisted on foundations being put down. Singapore businessman Peter Lim is also involved. There has been a stadium rebuild at Moor Lane with the famous grassy bank disappearing. There is an academy, a women's team and a commitment to working with the city's community.

Just over 8,000 attended the Wembley final, the smallest number yet. Opponents AFC Fylde also lack deep roots as a contender for league status. The Coasters, who have probably benefited from the turmoil at Blackpool, were winners of the FA Vase 11 years ago as Kirkham and Wesham. Local businessman David Haythornthwaite bought them when they were playing in the eighth tier and has pushed them up the non-league pyramid. However, average gates at Salford have risen from 130 five years ago to more than 2,500.

Gary Neville told The Times, ''If you want to get out of the National League, a budget of £700,000 or £800,000 won't get you out and it will cost you three or times as much to get out the longer you are down there. It's cheaper to spend more and go up.' Most players at the club earn nothing like the £4,000 a week reported wage of Adam Rooney, last summer's star signing from Abredeen.

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