Salford City lost in the League Two play-off final and once again missed out on promotion after their former manager downplayed their performance following his sacking.
Anthony Johnson was sacked when Salford were still non-league
Former Salford City manager Anthony Johnson has questioned the decision to sack him following the League Two play-off final defeat at Wembley.
Johnson, who co-managed with Bernard Morley, was a key figure in the club’s rise through the non-league leagues, helping the Ammies win three promotions in eight years and eventually the National League. Then the Class of ’92 opted for a change and brought in Gary Alexander.
The Scotsman lifted Salford to League Two on his first call, but despite spending money on the playing group, Salford will now play in the fourth tier for the eighth year in a row.
Salford co-owners Gary Neville and David Beckham attended Wembley, with the club aiming to play in League One for the first time, but suffered a heavy defeat to Notts County. Salford finished in fourth place and saw off Grimsby in the semi-finals, but lost in the final.
read more: Karl Robinson, 92nd year, talks about Salford’s League One dreams and his love for football again.read more: Gary Neville and David Beckham gutted, Class 92 owners Salford hit in play-off final
Johnson then took the opportunity to make his thoughts public, saying on social media: “We left Salford City eight years ago after winning three promotions. They have won one promotion since then, but that was the season after we left with most of the team we had assembled. I sometimes wonder…”
Neville previously expressed regret at the sacking of Alexander, who was sacked after just five games in 2020 despite the club having been unbeaten. Since then, the team has been managed by Neil Wood, Gary Bowyer and others, and is currently managed by Carl Robinson.
Gary Neville, David Beckham and Paul Scholes attended Wembley (Image: John Walton/PA Wire)
The former MK Dons manager failed to get the job done at Wembley, admitting: “We lost in every area of the pitch today. I have no complaints with the result. Too many players didn’t come here. It hurts. It hurts for everyone there. But this will be the lowest slump in the history of the football club. We have to be better.”
Robinson still insisted Salford are firmly on the upward curve. “This football club can only go in one direction. I have full confidence in that, I really believe in it,” he said. “I wish next year had been a visual step in the right direction of a league change.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 25: Salford City’s Haji Mnoga reacts after conceding his team’s second goal during the League Two play-off final match between Notts County and Salford City at Wembley Stadium on May 25, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Salford missed out on automatic promotion by just one point. Captain Luke Garbutt said: “As captain of the team I feel sorry for everyone who took part today. This is shocking, especially in the home of football.”
“But the club is moving in the right direction. We have to bounce back. It will take some time, but we will react in the right way and be bigger and better next season.”
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