UNITED legend Gary Neville has secured a deal for his Salford City Football Club to train on playing fields at a Partington school next season.

The football club, run by Neville and the Class of ‘92, have formed a partnership with Broadoak School in Warburton Lane, to use its playing fields as a training venue.

Neville led a controversial bid to turn green belt land at Turn Moss into football training pitches for the club, with the backing of the former Conservative-run council.

But these plans were scrapped immediately after Labour took control of town hall following the local elections in May.

Neville confirmed that he would seek alternative sites for Salford City training, but it is not known whether the Broadoak partnership is temporary or long-term.

Broadoak headteacher Lee McConaghie said the partnership will be mutually beneficial and will not detract from pupils' access to the playing fields and sports facilities.

He said: “We are delighted to inform you that a partnership has been formed between Broadoak School and Salford City Football Club.

“We will be hosting the club for the forthcoming football season as their training venue, utilising our extensive playing fields to support their programme.

“We believe that this is a very positive and exciting opportunity for Partington to be involved with this up and coming club.

“In return, we will have access to some great opportunities for our pupils and the community, beginning with an ‘open training’ session on July 14. There will be a number of coaching and mentoring sessions for our pupils and guest appearances from the players and management team.

“We have invited the new manager Grahame Alexander to be our guest at our upcoming Celebration Evening on July 19, to mark the start of the partnership.

“We are confident that this successful club will benefit the wider community simply on the basis that they have found Partington to be the most attractive option for their training base.

“I can assure parents and carers that this will not detract from our PE and sport offer to our pupils, rather it will enhance the experience.

“We look forward to providing regular updates and news about this exciting new venture."