Mayor Andy Burnham has claimed that Manchester United’s plans to redevelop Old Trafford are not only massive for the club and Greater Manchester but that they could prove to be one of the biggest Levelling Up projects in the UK.
Speaking in a lengthy press conference after being appointed as one of several figures on Man United’s ‘regeneration taskforce‘, which is being tasked with exploring all the options surrounding the next chapter for Old Trafford, the Manchester mayor insisted that the plans are much bigger than the club.
As per the BBC’s Simon Stone, Burnham said, “This could be the biggest regeneration scheme in the country” and that beyond being a shiny new football ground, it could bring “thousands of jobs” to the region in turn.
He also revealed that the club isn’t set to make a decision on whether to remain at a refurbished Theatre of Dreams or build a new construct a new Old Trafford until the middle/latter part of the year — one of the key decisions that the taskforce is helping United’s executives reach.
Having already insisted that Old Trafford’s regeneration — be it an updating and upgrading or a total rebuild — would mean “no other city in the world would be set up in terms of its football infrastructure to Manchester”, the Labour MP has insisted he is fully committed to playing his part in the project.
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Named alongside the likes of club legend turned pundit and businessman, Gary Neville, Lord Sebastian Coe (former Chair of the organising committee for the 2012 Olympics) and the Chief Exec of Trafford Council, Sara Todd, he will be key in making sure the plans have both social and economic impact.
Burnham went on to tell BBC Sport: “We’ve seen what has happened on the east of Manchester, with the investment that has gone in. I’m looking at a balancing investment on the west of Manchester that will set this city up to be the capital of football around the world in the 21st century.”
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Referencing Man City and how the development of the Etihad Campus has undoubtedly helped regenerate surrounding areas over the past decade or so, it’s clear that the 54-year-old sees this as a massive investment in the community as opposed to just a private venture — and has said as much too:
Andy Burnham insists whatever happens to Old Trafford, it should involve a mix of public investment and private funding.
While Burnham’s suggestion that Manchester United should seek public investment has come under plenty of fire, with many asking why their new billionaire co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe would turn to the taxpayer for help with funding, he insisted it should be a “public-private partnership”, not a handout.
As an Everton fan himself, he was quick to cite how the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has already helped the Toffees in supplying loans, grants and in covering other professional costs related to supporting works on their new stadium on Bramley Moore dock which is still in progress.
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Circling back to United and Old Trafford, Burnham added: “People should just get away from the idea of public sector money, that is not the issue, it is much broader, with transport, employment and new investment into our city region. That is what is at stake here.”
The Mayor also appeared on a special episode of MUTV’s UTD Podcast, touching on how such a project would be massive for the North as a whole, transport and the ever-growing Bee Network, as well as how his new consulting brief fits into his wider role as the Mayor of Greater Manchester.
The insights that people like Andy Burnham, Gary Neville and Lord Coe will no doubt factor into how Manchester United approach the plans and whether it be continuing Old Trafford’s legacy or starting from scratch, but several reports are now suggesting that Ratcliffe is leaning towards a new stadium.
The INEOS boss has already insisted that he wants Old Trafford to become the ‘Wembley of the North’ and feels the stadium plans would need government backing to achieve that goal.
People have long been envisaging what a new and improved Old Trafford could look like, be it upgrading the existing stadium or erecting entirely new ground, and it remains a big debate amongst the supporter base. What do you think, United fans: stay put and renovate or think up the next Theatre of Dreams?
Wigan Athletic renew ‘Future Fund’ to enable fans to support the club’s youth academy
Danny Jones
Wigan Athletic FC have officially launched their ‘Future Fund’ scheme for next season, giving fans the chance to contribute and impact the club’s youth academy system from the ground up.
The initiative, which looks to raise direct funding and support for the next generation of Latics players, has proved to be an invaluable part of the club’s infrastructure, especially given their all too recent financial problems.
It was only back in 2020 that the Greater Manchester side fell into administration; fast forward four years, and not only is the club back on its feet and trying to establish a stronger foothold in the EFL, but they are now continuing to build that bridge from grassroots all the way into senior professional football.
With memberships for the 2025/26 campaign now open, supporters are once again being encouraged to invest in homegrown talent and the future of their club.
Following the Future Fund‘s debut this time last year, more than 500 fans are said to have joined the scheme in its inaugural season, with more than £75,000 in voluntary donations through the membership and approximately £65k of that money pumped back into various academy services.
Be it sports science and data analytics or trips and tours, the recruitment of rising stars and so on, the lion’s share of the first kitty went straight back into supporting the junior ranks.
Now known as the ‘Heatable Wigan Athletic Academy’, with the local outfit securing sponsorship for their youth setup back in February 2024 (again, more pragmatic business-minded thinking from the Latics), they’re looking to build from within as much as possible.
Case and point: 38% of all minutes this season have also come from academy graduates. These are the kind of stats we love to hear.
You can hear Academy Manager Jake Campbell explaining the importance of the Future Fund when first launched in more detail down below:
Speaking on the renewal of the Future Fund for next season, the Latics’ managing director, Sarah Guilfoyle, wrote as part of a club statement: “The Future Fund has made a significant difference to the Heatable Wigan Athletic Academy over the last 12 months, with the funds allowing us to develop and strengthen various areas within the Academy, including those not covered by regular funding provisions.
“The Board and I are extremely grateful to our Future Fund members for their support of the Academy and the fantastic work undertaken by the Academy staff. We know our supporters are very proud of the calibre of players we have produced and will continue to produce through our Academy.
“We’ve been fully open and transparent with supporters regarding how the generated funds have been used, and we’re really excited to see how the Future Fund continues to aid and enhance our Academy.
“Our priority is making sure all Members feel part of the journey. Nothing gives us more pleasure than seeing one of our own on the pitch, and we hope our supporters experience the same pride, especially knowing they have helped make a resounding impact.”
The Latis may only be 17th in League One right now, but they’ve come a long way from the brink of disaster just a few short years ago and investing not only in their own talented prospects but the next generation of young footballers is an idea we can all get behind.
They take on Shrewsbury Town on the road this Good Friday, 18 April at 3pm and the initial away allocation was snapped up in a heartbeat. Times may change but the support never goes anywhere.
If you’re a Wigan fan interested in getting involved, you can find out plenty more information, including pricing options as well as additional season ticket benefits, right HERE.
Manchester United to debut first ‘tifo’ banner before Lyon game
Danny Jones
Manchester United is set to debut its first-ever ‘tifo’ banner ahead of their big game against Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday night.
The Red Devils are staring down their biggest moment of the season – arguably one of their biggest in some time – as they must beat Lyon in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final to advance in the competition, which is their only chance of silverware this year.
It’s been a tough start for new manager Ruben Amorim since he arrived at Old Trafford, with Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS ownership group having been amidst turbulent times pretty much ever since they took up a minority stake in the club.
All that being said, and with Man United’s financial obstacles now well-publicised by the co-owner himself, winning the tournament and therefore securing a shot at Champions League football next season is crucial to how their ambitious rebuild and, notably, stadium redevelopment plans pan out.
A pleasure to have worked with @ManUtd on this. The whole display should be fantastic. Let's ensure all fans are in the stadium early to create an atmosphere.https://t.co/yBzo3kXWrx
With that in mind, the club are looking to be bolder than ever when it comes to creating an atmosphere for the crucial knockout fixture, announcing that a tifo banner will be unveiled inside the stadium for the first time in the club’s history.
For any of those still unclear on what a tifo is, they are large, colourful, choreographed displays typically organised by the supporters themselves, which spotlight things like club badges, legendary players, insignias, messages and more.
Popular in various other parts of the continent and beyond, especially in the likes of Italy (where the trend first started) and Germany, as well as southern and eastern Europe, this particular part of global football fan culture hasn’t really made it over to the Premier League just yet.
Not too far away from the kinds of big banners that are commonplace throughout most football, only even more massive and usually much intricate in shape, design and detail, the club has confirmed their inaugural attempt at a United tifo will be shown in front of the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand.
As for what it’s going to look like, the specifics are being kept under wraps for now, but the club are said to have worked with fan representatives closely on the project before being shared with captain Bruno Fernandes to get his seal of approval.
The flag shown during this year’s Munich Disaster memorial observation. (Credit: The Manc Group)
For now, the only details revealed are that “the ‘tifo’ will be raised from the ground to the roof, in front of the halfway line, creating a spectacular moment ahead of kick-off in M16.”
There have been plenty of big banner moments – both in protest and to mark important memorials – already this season, but this promises to be a whole different kettle of fish for the club.
During their most recent Europa League fixture, those up in the stands even got to witness Old Trafford putting on pyrotechnics for the first time, though it’s safe to say they didn’t quite nail the concept.
In fact, it looks like the club itself would be the first to admit it, as they also confirmed that the pre-match pageantry will include “red-and-white pyrotechnics will also appear adjacent to the banner, in a larger display than the one seen before the win over Real Sociedad in the previous round.”
Tifos are all well and good, but they need backing up with results, and it goes without saying that this match could define not just Man United‘s season but work wonders for Amorim’s future moving forward. This is the sort of standard they’re up against…
Ultras do not mess about when it comes to this kind of stuff.
Danny Jones -
12th March 2024 
