29 September 2023 , 12:12
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Gary Neville revoiced his controversial support for Valencia owner Peter Lim despite mass fan protests from the Spanish club and comparisons to the absenteeism of the Glazers ownership of Manchester United.
Neville is a business partner of the Singaporean business magnate, who appointed the former United defender – who has no other management experience – as boss at the Mestalla in 2015. However, after a disastrous spell of results, the Spanish club pulled the plug on his stint after just four months.
There are multiple comparisons that can be drawn between Lim’s ownership of Valencia and that of the Glazers at United – of whom Neville is a vociferous opponent and continually calls on the American family to sell the club in the midst of a prolonged takeover process.
Writing in May 2021, Libertad VCF International – a Valencia supporters group who are protesting Lim’s ownership – posted directly to Neville: “Gary we can forget the past. We all know that the Glazers and Lim are the same, they attack the spirit football and the fans, help us get rid of him too. #GlazersOut #LimOut”
Lim’s ownership of Valencia – through his Meriton Holdings company - continues to be hugely controversial and unpopular among the club’s fanbase, despite his takeover of the club (through buying 70 percent of their shares in May 2014) who were on the brink of financial ruin.
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He was initially hailed as the club’s saviour by paying off their short-term debt of £179.1million and restructuring the long-term debt and liabilities in order to ease worries. Lim provided funding for first-team investment too – after successive finishes outside the league’s top half, they recorded successive top four finishes and won the Copa del Rey in 2019.
Yet instability behind the scenes – with absentee owner Lim and former club president Anil Murthy, who left the club last year, held largely responsible by the fanbase – has led to asset-stripping of the first-team squad with mass playing sales leading to a sharp decline of on-field expectations.
Lim has been owner of Spanish giants since May 2014Have Your Say! What do you think of Neville's contrasting stance on Lim and the Glazers? Tell us what you think here.
“I learned a lot on a personal level,” Neville reflected of his time at the Mestalla in a wide-ranging interview with Marca. “I have always spoken very openly and frankly about my time in Valencia. I feel like I let Peter and the fans down. The Valencian fans are one of the most passionate you can meet. When I walked around the city, people supported me and wished me well.”
Neville went on to voice his support of Lim’s ownership at Valencia, referencing his previous investment into the club. Prior to the Singaporean buying the club, they had recorded 27 successive top-half finishes in La Liga, but have fallen below that on four occasions since – including battling relegation last term, eventually finishing 16 th .
“It was a challenge when I was there,” Neville continued. “But Peter came in and put an incredible amount of money into the club to save it at a very difficult time and take over the club. I know Peter Lim well, he is a fantastic man. He has been my mentor and has believed in me and the rest of the class of '92. “
Huge demonstrations have been held in Valencia against the club's owner LimNeville concluded: “Peter wants Valencia to be successful and so do I. Peter wants Valencia to be successful and I know that is not happening at the moment. The fans probably won't listen to me because they know I'm a big fan of Peter, but I hope Peter can get Valencia back to where they should be.”
Neville brothers Gary and Phil, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Nicky Butt originally partnered with Lim in the United cafe franchises across the Far East as they cashed-in on the marketability of the club and Premier League during the 1990s globalisation.
Lim has owned Spanish giants Valencia since 2014 but his tenure at the helm has been marred by controversy and mass fan protests in recent years. Under his ownership, the club have gone from Champions League regulars to relegation battlers – with the squad asset-stripped and minimal investment into new arrivals.
Lim’s friendships with the Class of 92 developed into business partnerships after the player’s retired and together they formed Project 92 Limited , which bought Salford City - currently in League Two - in 2014. Each of the six former United players own 10 percent each of the club, while Lim owns the remaining 40 percent.
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In 2015, Lim’s real estate and investment company Rowsley acquired a 75 percent shareholding in each of the related-business to Hotel Football and Cafe Football (operated by the Class of '92). Rowley are owned by a company named Orchid Leisure, which alongside Lim’s Incanto Investments Limited - through which he owns his stake in Salford City – are registered in the tax haven of the British Virgin Isles.