Salford City have been making an effort to bolster their defence ahead of the new season. Following the signings of centre-backs Loick Ayina and Adebola Oluwo, Salford are now trialling a goalkeeper.
Despite the Ammies not having a terrible season defensively, with 62 goals allowed, it is still above the league average of 58. Their goal difference wasn’t a tiebreaker at the end of the season, as they finished a point outside the playoffs. However, having a goal difference which is at least nine goals worse than any team above them was indicative of an issue either at the back or the front of the pitch.
Considering that Salford City have already signed a right-back and two centre-backs, they seem to have identified that to advance from their 8th-place finish into at least a playoff spot, they must improve their defence.
Paul Farman on trial at Salford City
Salford’s centre-back signings of Loick Ayina and Adebola Oluwo, and the right-back signing of Kallum Casey from Wealdstone, are a progressive start to this defensive rebuild. Now it seems like ex-Lincoln City and Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman is on trial at Salford City.
Former Lincoln City and Barrow Goalkeeper Paul Farman is on trial at Salford City
Good luck @paulfarman23 #weareimps #wearesalford #barrowafc pic.twitter.com/ULfalkYQpJ
— Fourth Tier Fever – DECK (@FourthTierFever) July 8, 2025
The Deck’s Fourth Tier Fever have reported on X that Farman appeared in a preseason match against FC United of Manchester on Tuesday, which ended in a draw. Just being referred to as ‘the goalkeeper’ in Salford’s match report, they conceded two goals on his trial, where the Ammies were trialling a few players.
The 35-year-old goalkeeper had been at Barrow since 2021, making 178 appearances, but his tenure came to an end following the end of last season. Despite his age, Farman managed 29 league appearances last season; however was dropped to the bench at the end of March, following a difficult start to the year. The Deck spoke with Paul Farman in an exclusive interview following his exit from Barrow, with the keeper saying, “I feel like I’ve had a really good year at Barrow and shown what I’ve got”.
Farman’s replacement, Will Stanway, impressed manager Andy Whing during his time in the net. This left Farman destined to be released following the end of his contract.
Although Paul Farman is now a free agent, he remains a fairly desirable name. The goalkeeper has made almost 300 appearances in League Two and over 250 in the National League, mostly at Lincoln City and Barrow AFC, being a regular starter for almost every club he’s played at since the 2012/13 season.
Salford’s goalkeeper towards the end of last season was Matthew Young, an 18-year-old on loan from Sunderland. Following his return to Wearside, Salford were left with just one senior goalkeeper, 36-year-old Jamie Jones. Jones and Farman share a similar career, mostly lingering around the lower EFL leagues, although Jones has spent more time in League One; Farman has played over 200 more matches in his career.
Why have Salford trialled Farman?
With Jamie Jones and Paul Farman both being senior players, aged 36 and 35 respectively, questions could be raised as to why Salford City are interested in Farman.
Younger players are always available, either on loan from a higher league or as free agents released from larger academies. However, they often lack the experience and physicality to take a club into a promotion race, especially if the team consists of a younger back line. Salford’s new defensive signings, two 22-year-olds and one 25.
Farman would provide a wise head to command and organise this defence, especially if veteran defender Luke Garbutt plays fewer games, although this is unlikely as Garbutt appeared in 41 league matches last season.
The outcome of Farman’s trial remains to be seen, but the club will likely announce him in the coming days if it is successful. There’s a strong possibility that this match against FC United of Manchester was part of a lengthy medical, monitoring Farman’s recovery following a match, considering he hasn’t played since the end of March.