Gary Neville warned ‘promotion lunatic’ could stop Salford City’s League Two title hopes

Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony believes ‘promotion lunatic’ Steve Evans could derail Salford City’s title hopes.

Salford’s 2026/27 campaign marks the start of a new era having undergone a major rebrand.

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The Ammies, who have languished in League Two since earning promotion from National League in 2019, have changed their badge to a round one and returned to orange as their predominant colour as opposed to red.

There’s also a new face in the dugout at Moor Lane, with Peter Cklamovski taking over from Karl Robinson after the latter was axed following last season’s League Two play-off final defeat against Notts County.

Salford’s ownership group, which includes Gary Neville and David Beckham, will hope Cklamovski can take what he learned as a previous understudy of Ange Postecoglou and steer the club to the third tier.

Cklamovski, who was previously the head coach of the Malaysia national team, has also been backed in the transfer market, with eight new faces arriving.

One of the new players through the door is striker Macaulay Langstaff, who joined from Championship side Millwall.

Langstaff has already proven himself capable in the fourth tier, scoring 28 goals in 46 fixtures for Notts County during the 2023/24 campaign.

MacAnthony: ‘Never write off’ Evans

Despite Salford’s mass changes this summer, MacAnthony warned Evans, who is in charge of Bristol Rovers, could easily upset the apple cart.

When asked who he believed on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan will win League Two, MacAnthony said: “You’d have to say Salford, with the amount of business they’ve done.

“But never write off Steve Evans, I always say that.

“The guy’s a serial winner, he’s a promotion lunatic. He’s won more promotions than I’ve had Guinness.

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“There’s a few biggies that you couldn’t write off, but I would say Salford for what they’ve spent this summer, and I’m well aware of what they’ve spent, you’d expect them to win the league.”

How has Evans performed at Bristol Rovers?

Evans initially took over the Gas last December on a deal until the end of the season.

At the time, the club was in the relegation zone of League Two.

But Evans dragged the club to safety and even oversaw a sensational run of 11 wins from their last 14 league fixtures, helping the Gas finish 14th.

Evans has since signed a two-year deal to stay on as Rovers’ manager.

The 63-year-old will be targeting his first promotion since the 2022/23 campaign, when he led Stevenage to a second-place finish in League Two.

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It was the eighth promotion across English football Evans had overseen throughout his managerial career.

Yet a ninth with Rovers may prove to be the most special of the lot.

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