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?
Kate Scott praised for impassioned speech following more racism in Champions League
Danny Jones
Football pundit and sports presenter Kate Scott has been met with plenty of praise for her ‘expert’ handling of the fallout following more racism in the Champions League this week, delivering an emotional and impassioned speech about discrimination live on TV.
The Manchester-born broadcaster, formerly Kate Abdo, was serving as the host on her usual CBS Sports panel on Tuesday, 17 February, when the story of the playoff game between Benfica and Real Madrid – which included a worldie from Vinicius Jr. – was overshadowed by more allegations of racial abuse.
In case you missed it, Argentine player Gianluca Prestianni was accused of making racist remarks by both Vini Jr and Kylian Mbappe, but supposedly covered his mouth so as not to be caught on camera; the match was then stopped for more than 11 minutes.
Speaking in the aftermath amid the following European fixtures the next day, the Withington-schooled journalist and University of Salford graduate delivered an eloquent reaction to the controversy with peak professionalism.
Absolutely pitch perfect, and all those involved in preparing the statement should be applauded.
While Scott herself recognised that it’s a shame we even have to keep talking about issues like these rather than the sheer simplistic beauty of, well, ‘the beautiful game’, her response is an example of the job being done at arguably its very best: factual, ethical, moving and inspiring.
As you can see, Scott goes on to say, “This isn’t Real Madrid versus Benfica – it is right versus wrong. Vini Junior and Kylian Mbappe said that there was repeated racial abuse.
“Gianluca Prestiani said they misheard, but he covered his mouth to hide what he said from the cameras, and hopefully, we can all agree that if what you are saying on a football pitch is shameful enough to have to hide it from the public, then you’re wrong.”
The Portuguese club, which ultimately lost 1-0 in their first leg at home on the night, have released a statement reaffirming their commitment to “equality, respect, and inclusion” but reiterates that they believe Prestiani and feel he is now the subject of a “defamation campaign”.
Conversely, in a definitive and emphatic closing message, she signs off by adding the following: “The racial diversity on a football pitch in the Champions League is the representation of the global love for this game and the global belonging in this game. This is the very spirit of football.
“And if you don’t agree, then respectfully, you are the one who doesn’t belong.”
This is what the Athletic is supposed to be. Telling important stories & giving in depth analysis. I hope this signals that it will be its focus moving forward.
From CBS ‘Golazo’ show being applauded for tackling the subject head-on, to Cross herself being labelled as everything from “a role model” and “a benchmark” to “the best on the planet” in the outpouring of reactions on social media, it’s fair to say they absolutely nailed it.
Sadly, this is one of many recent examples of prejudice being shared publicly across various UEFA tournaments and beyond in recent years, but the only way we can truly help anti-hate initiatives is by continuing to call them out.
Stockport County defender Tyler Onyango out injured for the rest of the season
Danny Jones
Stockport County defender Tyler Onyango is set to be ruled out for the rest of the season as the club confirms he has injured his hamstring yet again.
County manager Dave Challinor delivered the unfortunate news in his most recent pre-match press conference ahead of the local clash against Wigan Athletic, revealing that the injury, which saw Onyango forced off in the defeat against Bradford City, as feared, is fairly serious.
The young Luton-born full-back has played a baker’s dozen worth of games already this campaign – already three more than his first term last year – but is now scheduled to be out for a number of weeks and isn’t likely to return before Stockport’s promotion race ends.
With the Greater Manchester club having stayed well in and amongst the playoff scrap spots, currently sat in 5th, losing a player in a key wide position is the last thing the Hatters need.
Damaging his hamstring once more, and not for the first time (suffering multiple related setbacks since 2023), the 22-year-old has racked up a number of concerning injuries at a young age.
As well as a hernia problem, Onyango fractured his ankle in 2021 and was sidelined for more than a third of the year in 2022/23 with a hip flexor issue.
He only returned to action after his last muscle strain this past December and did look to be finally enjoying a decent run in Challinor’s side.
On the other hand, the Everton loanee’s performances haven’t always been consistent, and while many fans recognise he’s a “good player when fully fit” and has progressed since he arrived in SK3, other supporters fear he may not be a reliable enough option.
Writing on X, one user said: “A player who has improved since last season and adds quality to the group. My question to the club is, at what point is maintaining good injury-prone players a potential detriment to the squad rather than a positive ‘gamble’ given we haven’t had consistent wingbacks all season?”
Sadly for the young right-back, who has shown promise in spells bombing down those flanks, his second stint at Edgeley Park is being cut short just like his last one.
Detailing that Onyango “will now go for surgical opinion”, a club statement put simply, “Whatever the outcome, the setback brings his second loan spell at Edgeley Park to a premature end.
Praising the versatile defender for his efforts and resilience thus far, they go on to add: “We wish Tyler all the best and will continue to offer our support throughout his recovery. We thank him for his efforts during his time as a Stockport County player.”
It remains to be seen whether or not they will attempt to keep him close and secure a third temporary deal come the summer.
One player they have decided to help complete his loan trilogy is returning winger Louie Barry, who isn’t expected to be back in action until March, but could provide plenty of solutions on the pitch.
You can see Dave Challinor’s post-match presser following the double defeat to Bradford here.
Danny Jones -
12th March 2024 
