Salford City have recently revealed where they’re targeting on finishing in League Two next season after securing promotion to the English Football League for the first time in the club’s history.
They had to battle it out in the playoffs, beating Eastleigh 4-3 on penalties and then comfortable beating AFC Fylde 3-0 in the Final at Wembley.
Karen Baird has spoken to the media after her side went up and she is setting her sights high and potentially getting another promotion next season.
Though we heard something similar a few years ago when Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince claimed it was be ‘easy’ to go up from League Two to League One in their first season.
It will be their third campaign in League Two in a row next season after they were defeated by Tranmere Rovers in this year’s playoffs.
Chairman Karen Baird told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek programme: “We are just going to keep going up and see how far we can go.
“This one has been the hardest one, no-one has ever got out of the National League in one season and we are the first to do it.
“It’s only two that go up – the champions and the play-off winners. Next year four go up so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be up there again. We’ve come a long way but we are all very ambitious and we will push on.
“I got involved about six years ago and there were probably about 80 people and a dog watching and everything has totally transformed – the team, the stadium, the area. Now to be in the Football League is just amazing.”
Salford have been criticism for ‘buying their way up the non league pyramid’, though Baird defends the club.
She added: “Everyone liked us before and now they don’t,” she said. “I don’t think its the budget, it’s more the owners. Wrexham, Leyton Orient and Fylde all have good budgets, all have owners with money, but the spotlight seems to be on us a bit more with the Class of 92.”
After the Wembley win, co-owner Gary Neville said: “It is not easy, you have a lot of understanding of how difficult it is.
“You have to make tough decisions. We have been really clinical at times over the last five years and sometimes you don’t like yourself for it.
“There are a lot of players who aren’t here today, managers who aren’t here, who have done a lot over this last five years.
“Four promotions in five years – we said we would do it in eight, and we thought that was quite aggressive.
“But once we got the momentum and on a roll, we just thought ‘right, lets go for it’.
“It is tough, but we have done it and we are so proud and delighted. Five years ago we had 180 fans, now we have got a few thousand here, so it is amazing.”
According to Sky Bet, the Ammies are 12/1 to win League Two, 3/1 to be promoted and 33/1 to go down. It’s early days though should likely to change.
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