Peter Lim: Who is the Singaporean billionaire who just appointed Gary Neville Valencia manager?

Lim has a 50 per cent stake in Salford City and has invested in several of the Class of 92's business schemes

(Getty Images)

Many were shocked to hear Gary Neville had been appointed Valencia manager.

But scratch slightly below the surface and it's not so surprising - the La Liga club are owned by Singaporean businessman Peter Lim.

Lim, who is worth just shy of $2billion (£1.33bn) owns a 70.4 per cent in Valencia and also a 50 per cent stake in Salford City.

The non-League outfit, of course, are also owned by a group of former Manchester United players, with Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs each owning 10 per cent.

Lim and the five players have bankrolled Salford's recent rise up the leagues, they won the Northern Premier League First Division North last season and are now third in the Premier Division (six divisions below the Premier League), three points behind leaders Nantwich Town with three games in hand.

The Singaporean, earned a degree in accountancy from the University of Western Australia and began his career as a stockbroker. After several successful years, mostly with Indonesian clients, he became a full-time investor, in various schemes.

He was linked with a takeover move of Liverpool FC in 2010 but withdrew after making a final offer of £320million. Lim believed the previous owners were "intent on selling the club to New England Sports Ventures to the exclusion of all other parties, regardless of the merits of their bids," he said at the time.

When the news emerged that Lim was to buy Salford City with the 'Class of 92', the ex-United players revealed in a statement that they had known the businessman for 10 years.

"We have all known Peter for over 10 years, his love of sport, above all football, is well documented," they said. "He has an incredible track record in business as well as youth and community engagement, especially at grassroots level."

Lim owns a 29 per cent stake in Rowsley, a Far East investment company that has invested money into several of the Class of 92's non-football related activities.

Rowsley have a 75 per cent stake in the three assets of Hotel Football.

The Class of 92 have known Peter Lim 'for over 10 years' (BBC)

They paid a total of £29.1m for the stake in the 133-room hotel that sits in close proximity to Old Trafford and cost around £24m to build, Cafe Football, the 120-seat restaurant,in Stratford, East London and GG Collections, the hotel management company that manages both venues.

Rowsley, and therefore Mr Lim, are also involved in the plans to develop a large area of Manchester city centre, named St Michael's; luxury flats, a five star hotel and office space will transform the area surrounding the former Bootle Street Police station.

Lim is believed to have spent £40m for a 75 per cent stake in that project.

The Singaporean also attended the recent funeral of Gary Neville's father, Neville.