Paul Scholes looked equally grim-faced as he passed through the mixed zone at Wembley compared to his earlier seat near former Manchester United colleague David Beckham in the Royal Box during Salford City's 3-0 play-off final loss to Notts County.

Scholes had visited the defeated dressing room to provide what support he could following the crushing result.

'A quick word, Paul?' came the request as he moved past journalists heading out. The ex-England player paused, dismissed the query with a sound and kept walking.

Little remained to discuss.

"We lost control in every part of the game," manager Karl Robinson stated from a similar spot shortly after.

"I am sorry to the fans that we fell short of their hopes."

The result sparked predictable online commentary about co-owner Gary Neville's media critiques of rival clubs while his own side struggled.

Ex-joint boss Anthony Johnson added his perspective.

Johnson - alongside Bernard Morley - guided Salford through three promotions. They featured in the BBC series Out of Their League documenting the early ownership phase, before their exit after the 2018 National League step up.

"We departed Salford City eight years back after three promotions," he posted on X. "They have managed one since, and that came right after our exit using most of the group we assembled. It makes you think…"

Nine days on, Robinson lost his job. An eight-line club statement noted the choice was "not straightforward" yet agreed "by all involved".

Despite common belief, the dismissal did not come from Neville. Scholes - serving as chief football adviser - and chief executive Gavin Fleig provide input on major football matters. Their views reach the executive group and gain approval from the full ownership group, where Neville forms one voice.

Fourth spot in League Two may represent Salford's best position yet, yet it fell short of summer targets. Robinson understood promotion formed the goal.

Key Salford figures believed a fresh ownership setup, fresh drive and - importantly - the absence of big spenders such as Wrexham and Stockport meant one of the division's largest payrolls would secure the target.

It fell short. Though they stayed near the summit throughout the campaign, Salford suffered from four straight February losses to teams that ended in the lower half, a final-day stalemate at bottom-placed Crawley, and the Wembley collapse.

Victory in any of those fixtures would have brought promotion. Instead, they face an eighth straight League Two campaign.

Salford were not alone among ambitious sides missing out via the play-offs this term. Stockport and Bradford exited in League One while Wrexham missed the Championship version - pipped by eventual winners Hull on the last day.

Salford stay where they have sat since 2019. Along with Wrexham and Stockport, Notts County and Bromley now form four clubs that have advanced beyond them after sharing the National League as recently as 2022.

Grasping why this counts requires connecting several elements.

The long-range target since the 2014 purchase of Salford City by the 'Class of 92' - Scholes, Neville and brother Phil, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and later Beckham, backed by Singapore investor Peter Lim - centred on the Championship.

Back then it appeared unrealistic. Salford competed in the second tier of the Northern Premier League - eighth level overall - often drawing under 100 spectators.

Views shifted after four promotions across five years plus heavy spending that upgraded Moor Lane, now the Peninsula Stadium, leaving almost no original features.

Neville later called the October 2020 sacking of Graham Alexander an error, with the side fifth after an unbeaten opening. As with Robinson, playing style formed part of the rationale.

Richie Wellens and Gary Bowyer came after Alexander before - following a troubled spell under Neil Wood - Robinson arrived in January 2024.

Barring Wood's season, Salford placed between seventh and 11th across their opening six League Two terms.

Consistent, yet short of expected strides.

In a joint Athletic interview from September 2025, Beckham and Gary Neville conceded the club would have faced "real difficulty" without the ownership change and extra resources.

Losses across the prior seven years reached around £22.5m and Lim withdrew in 2024. Prospects looked "worrying".

Beckham, drawing on his Inter Miami role, and Neville joined forces with Declan Kelly and Lord Mervyn Davies to form a new group featuring major backers such as AIG and Coca-Cola.

In December, AIG took the largest stake.

Salford reset their goal to the Championship inside five years. They sense resources exist to deliver, though the model still needs major owner input.

The latest accounts to June 2025 showed the club owing £20.47m to its parent firm, with "repayment delayed until cash flow allows".

Salford's average crowd this season reached 3,050 - a record. It shows major growth since the Class of 92 arrival, yet only four League Two sides drew fewer. Notts County averaged 10,715.

The opening year of the five has passed. Salford remain in the same division as in 2019.

"Everyone holds a plan until hit in the face," Kelly said to the Athletic in September. "We accept punches will land along the route.

"Yet we are not here briefly. We are committed for years. It will prove quite a ride."

The Wembley defeat counted as one such blow. Robinson took the impact.

No announcement has followed on a successor or the future of Robinson's staff.

Whatever follows, the ambitious owners expect far more.