Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs returned to the dugout with Salford City last year – but the Welshman doesn’t how if the arrangement will be a long-term one
Ryan Giggs admits he is unsure as to whether or not he will continue to assist Karl Robinson in the trenches at Salford City.
The Manchester United legend, 51, initially stepped into the dugout for the League Two fixture with Crewe Alexandra back in October after the four-month nephew of Alex Bruce, Robinson’s assistant, tragically died.
Giggs has remained in the dugout alongside Robinson and Bruce ever since. And with the Ammies putting themselves into promotion contention after losing just twice in the 17 matches since Giggs’ stepped in, it’s easy to see why the arrangement has continued.
In an interview with The Athletic, Giggs explained that the arrangement also helps Salford on a financial level: “Karl was literally going to be left on his own. So I said, ‘Right, I’ll come on the bench with you’.
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“It was just me and Karl, the physio, goalkeeping coach, and sport scientist. I enjoyed it. Karl enjoyed it. And we were saving a little bit of money, not getting another coach in.”
Giggs is the club’s current director of football and he has a significant say in how Salford is run alongside the other members of The Class of 92, who are all co-owners.
The former Wales boss has made no secret of his desire to return to management one day. But he says it will be Robinson who decides if he stays in the dugout at Salford.
“I’m just concentrating on what I’m doing at this present moment in time,” he adds when he’s asked about coaching. “You never know what’s going to happen in the future. I can only control what I can control.
“It came by chance, coming in the dugout (with Salford)… In a League Two team, saving every little bit of salary helps: we can get maybe a better gym kit, maybe we can get a player on loan. Whether I’m going to stay in the dugout, that’s up to Karl, but at the moment I’m enjoying it.”
Giggs will be in the dugout on Saturday evening with Salford travel to face Manchester City in a lucrative FA Cup third round tie at The Etihad Stadium.
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