CLASS of 92-owned Salford City’s promotion hopes were ended by a familiar face as they failed to beat relegated Carlisle United.
Former Manchester United player Mark Hughes’ side went 2-0 up in 17 minutes, forcing visitors Salford to mount a comeback that they couldn’t quite complete.
This meant the Manchester team finished the day one point away from Chesterfield who beat Accrington Stanley away from home to claim the final play-off spot in League Two.
Goals from Salford’s Cole Stockton and Hakeeb Adelakun cancelled out Carlisle’s Stephen Wearne and Matthew Dennis.
But it could have been worse as Matty Young managed to force a brilliant save to deny the hosts late on.
Carlisle were relegated before the game kicked off with Hughes, who joined on a rolling contract in February, unable to prevent their slide.
While the Red Devils-owning Salford had been looking upwards towards promotion, the one at the helm of Carlisle might be looking in the other direction.
Hughes has said, despite managing Premier League clubs previously, that he is open to following his team down to the National League.
The Welshman said: “I have no ego. This has been a tough challenge but one I’d still be up for, so we’ll see.”
He took charge with 18 games to go and five points adrift at the bottom of League Two.
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But after winning three-in-a-row towards the end of the season he could be the man to bring them back.
Since being taken over by former Manchester United players Nicky Butt, Phil Neville, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes in 2014, Salford have gone from strength to strength.
In pursuit of the Premier League, the club climbed to the fourth tier from the eighth in only five years.
The draw today will add to Salford’s stalling progress as they are forced to wait another season to reach League One.
