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A little-known former Manchester United player is now performing a vital role behind the scenes at Salford City.
The League Two club are part-owned by members of United ‘Class of 92’ – David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Nevilles. They have steered the club from the lower reaches of non-league to the Football League, although they lost out in the League Two play-offs last season.
The Old Trafford legends like to appoint people they know in key positions, with Neil Wood, a former United youngster and under-23 coach, the current manager. Meanwhile, the club’s sporting director is Chris Casper, who was part of that famed ‘Class of 92’ cohort.
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Casper was a promising defender, making a few appearances under Sir Alex Ferguson. After a number of loan spells, he left the club permanently for Reading early in United’s 1998/99 Treble-winning season.
Sadly, he had to retire from playing through injury soon after suffering a double leg fracture following a challenge from Cardiff’s Richard Carpenter. More than four years later, he secured undisclosed compensation in an out-of-court settlement with Carpenter.
How far can the 'Class of 92' take Salford? Have your say in the comments section below
Casper quickly turned his attention to coaching with spells with Team Bath, Bury, Bradford and Grimsby before being appointed sporting director at Salford, a position he has held for six-and-half years. The club has enjoyed two promotions and two Wembley trips in that time.
Explaining the role, Casper told the MEN last year: “In essence, the role is to oversee the football side of the club. That starts with the owners identifying what they are looking to achieve, how they are looking to achieve it, what the long-term vision is, and how we are going to achieve it.
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“You work with the owners, you identify the playing style, which influences the manager you hire, and you recruit the players who can fit into that philosophy. You are overseeing everything from a football perspective, recruitment, medical, sport science, etc.
“You take a lot of work away from the manager so he can focus on working with the players. So, dealing with agents and other parts of the club, they don’t have to worry about it.”
- Manchester United FC
- Gary Neville
- David Beckham
- Footballblog
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