Dwight Yorke wants to see former players invest in lower league clubs

Sport360 staff 15:33 08/12/2015
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  • Dwight Yorke spoke during a Guardian Wealth Management event in Dubai.

    Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke believes the next generation of retiring footballers should invest money in small clubs or even start their own.

    Speaking in Dubai at an event for Guardian Wealth Management, the 44-year-old feels there is more scope for ex-stars to get involved in the financial side of the game and he highlighted some of his old team-mates at Old Trafford who are now the owners of non-league team Salford City, as a prime example.

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    Yorke said: “You look at the Manchester United Class of 92 with the likes of Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes buying Salford City and it’s fantastic to see.

    “They aren’t doing it for the money but for the love of football. A lot of people say they put something back into the game when they retire but those lads are actually doing it.

    “With so much money around now the players who are finishing their careers never need to work again so I think it would be brilliant to have more of them doing the same."

    The former Manchester United striker joined beIN SPORTS presenters Richard Keys and Andy Gray.

    The Tobago-born forward, who won the treble with the Red Devils in 1999, added: “They can invest in a small team or even help start one. That would keep football going at that level for many, many years to come. It’s important we remember the game is not just about the Premier League and that we have to keep hundreds of teams going in England.”

    In recent years there has been less progression of clubs further down from the Premier League to the bigger teams.

    But the efforts of record breaker Jamie Vardy at Leicester this season shows it is possible.

    Yorke said: “He is the Cinderella story and its amazing what he has done. It shows the point I am making that we have to keep smaller clubs going and helping players who do not make it to the top straight away.”

    Salford City owners Gary Neville and Nicky Butt at their team's FA Cup tie last month.

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