Man Utd stars agree Salford deal

Five of Manchester United's most successful homegrown players have agreed a deal to buy non-league Salford City FC.

United player-coach Ryan Giggs and four of his former Old Trafford team-mates - Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Gary Neville and Phil Neville - are set to become joint owners of the club this summer, pending FA approval of the deal.

Salford City are currently 11th in the Evo-Stick Northern Premier League Division One - the eighth tier of English football.

However, the club's illustrious prospective owners plan to help the club bring through local young players and develop grassroots football in the area.

United player-coach Giggs, 40, said: "We want to use our football experience and knowledge to nurture young talent."

Following earlier rumours in the media that Scholes would be appointed as the club's manager, Gary Neville said the investors had no plans to change the club's name, ground or management.

The former England right-back said: "I had my first trial for Manchester United in Salford at age 11 and I will never forget how important that was to me."

Salford City FC to me represents those early years, the commitment, hunger, enthusiasm, desire and spirit of football and I am very excited about this venture.

All five players are known as members of Man Utd 'Class of 92', a reference to the club's FA Youth Cup win of that year.

David Beckham is the sixth member of the group, who all went on to have hugely successful careers in United's first team.

Under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, United won 13 league titles, two Champions League crowns, four FA Cups and four League Cups with at least one of those six graduates in his squad.

Scholes, who was born in Salford, said: "We know it will be tough but we will be committed to this from the start and have some very exciting plans going forward."

Club chairman Karen Baird said the agreement would give the club "a very bright future".