Simon’s a Grand signing for Salford City, says boss Anthony Johnson

By Chris Dunlavy

SALFORD CITY boss Anthony Johnson has hailed the capture of veteran centre-back Simon Grand as a major coup for the National League North new boys.

Grand, 32, has won promotion to the top flight twice in the last three years, first with AFC Telford and then Barrow.

He also sealed promotion to the Football League with Carlisle in 2005 and was part of the unheralded Southport side that finished seventh in the Conference under Liam Watson four years ago.

The former Rochdale man received a host of offers following his release by Barrow but elected to join the ambitious Ammies.

“To get a man who captained at this level, who’s won the division and come second as well, it’s a major coup for us,” said Johnson, Salford’s joint-manager alongside Bernard Morley.

Attitude

“Everyone knows what type of player Simon Grand is. But when you get him into training and see for yourself, you realise he’s also a top-class person.

“His attitude has been first class. He’s been great with all the lads. He’s helped the new ones settle in, even though he’s only been here five minutes himself.

“We had a pre-season friendly down in Caernarfon and you could see straight away the qualities he had. The leadership, the composure. A lot of things that we’d already highlighted were missing, Simon brought to the table.

“The players who’ve come up with us, not a lot of them have played at this level. Myself and Bernard haven’t managed here. Having someone of Simon’s experience – and he’s only 32, not a 38-year-old man – is exactly what we needed.”

Salford beat off stiff competition to land Grand.

“We know Halifax were in for him,” he added. “We also know he was talking to a lot of clubs at the top end of our division.

“But he straight away intimated that we were his first choice. He lives 20 minutes away in Chorley. He was excited by our plans. We wanted a centre-half to come in, lead us and be the main man. It just ticked every box.”

But with big names – and big budgets – come big expectations. After two promotions in as many years, will Ammies fans ask too much of Salford’s first season at Step 2?

“The expectations are massive,” admitted Johnson. “But we knew that when we came in 18 months ago.

“We were given three years to win promotion and, as it happens, we did it in one. By rights, we should get four years now, but it won’t work like that – and that’s totally understandable.

“This league is as tough as it’s ever been. We were in the North West Counties a few years ago, so half the teams in this division are giants compared to us.

“But we’ll attack it. We’ll set our sights to win 42 games out of 42 and win the league. Obviously that’s impossible, but you have to start with that attitude.”