Class of ’92 legend quits major role at Salford City as the former Man United star sets his sights on a return to coaching

A Class of ’92 legend has quit his role at Salford City – the club he part-owns with four of his former Manchester United team-mates.

The ex-United ace, 49, was part of the group that bought Salford back in 2014, with the Class of ’92 keen on getting their local club back into the Football League.

They have achieved this, with Salford currently playing in League Two, but will now make a change behind the scenes.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Nicky Butt confirmed he has decided to step down as the club’s CEO to focus on a return to coaching.

Butt said: ‘Whilst I have enjoyed the day-to-day responsibilities of the Chief Executive role and discovered a huge amount about the challenges an EFL club faces away from the football pitch, I have recently realised how much I miss the coaching and development of players, and this has increased my desire to get back into that side of the game.

Butt bought Salford with Ryan Giggs (second left), Gary Neville (fourth right), Phil Neville (third right) and Paul Scholes (second right) in 2014, and has served as CEO since 2022

They’ve led Salford back into the Football League but are making a change behind the scenes

Butt replaced Gary Neville as CEO two years ago but is now walking away from the position

‘Over the past few months there have been several exciting opportunities put forward to me that have put my focus back on coaching and on the grass. 

‘That being said I have always wanted to put Salford first, and we now have experienced executives within the senior management team here which means that I can step away from my current duties without any impact on current operations and it will be very much business as usual.’

Salford confirmed that their current finance director Jonathan Jackson will replace Butt as interim CEO.

Butt replaced Gary Neville as Salford’s CEO in October 2022 after the Sky Sports pundit had held the position for eight years.

But two years on, a return to the training pitch now beckons for Butt.

Butt, who came through United’s academy alongside fellow Salford part-owners Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary and Phil Neville, returned to Old Trafford as a reserve team coach in 2012.

Butt is eyeing a return to coaching, having previously worked in a variety of roles for Man United between 2012 and 2021

Salford currently sit 16th in League Two after taking 12 points from 10 matches to date

He briefly assisted Giggs when he was placed in interim charge of the first team following David Moyes’s sacking in 2014, and went on to work as the head of the academy and head of first team development.

Butt left United in 2021 after nine years back at the club in a coaching capacity prior to taking on a more hands-on role at Salford.

Butt walks away with Salford currently 16th in League Two, having taken 12 points from their opening 10 matches.