The new Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly hoping to turn Old Trafford into the “Wembley of the North”, teasing ambitious plans to redevelop the club and its ageing stadium, as well as potentially reaching out to the government for extra funding.
Ratcliffe and the INEOS Group completed their 25% purchase of the football club on Christmas Eve 2023 and have gradually been laying foundations to rebuild the club and its infrastructure, such as installing Sir Dave Brailsford. Updating their iconic home ground is also at the top of the agenda for a lot of fans.
Speaking to Telegraph Sport in an exclusive interview, sources close to Ratcliffe have relayed that the British billionaire “feels the club needs an absolute state-of-the-art, knock-it-out-of-the-park, ‘wow’ stadium” to compete with the likes of the Etihad, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and, of course, Wembley.
For anyone who’s been living under a rock over the past few seasons, not only has the level of football and success declined in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson years at United but so too have the Old Trafford facilities, with numerous clips of leaks, even crumbling debris and more going viral.
There's a leak at Old Trafford. Imagine having a ticket in that seat tonight. 😂🌧
Nevertheless, the Failsworth-born businessman and his executive team apparently “feel there’s a strong argument for the country having a top-class major venue in the North – a Wembley of the North”, and that with the right investment Old Trafford can become that location.
While there had been some calls to bulldoze the site altogether and build a brand-new stadium, especially when Qatari investors were still looking to buy the club outright, the question of whether to renovate or start again is a sticking point for many, including Ratcliffe himself.
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The report goes on to state that Ratcliffe is “broadly opposed to the idea of United having to relocate but believes supporters would be amenable to the idea of a world-leading new stadium on land immediately surrounding Old Trafford, the club’s home for the past 114 years.”
EXCL. Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants #MUFC to create the “Wembley of the North” under bold plans for a spectacular new Old Trafford home. Could seek to lobby government for funds amid “Levelling Up” pledges given potential scale/nature of project This & more: https://t.co/Bx2sJij9HU
As the sources go on to say, “The spiritual home is important” but they did go on to add that “We think the fans would be quite happy to accept a brand new stadium if we stay where we are.”
Other key features that the current stadium lacks include reliable public WiFi and a screen for VAR decisions, which more and more clubs now have as standard given its prevalence in the modern game.
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However, the problem presented by simply refurbishing the existing structure is that as the likes of Chris Lee, the managing director of Populous — the architectural designers overseeing the project — already told the outlet in December that a new stadium may end up being the cheapest option long-term.
They went on to insist that “the building is reaching the end of its natural life”, detailing that “the cabling, the electricity supplies, everything is nearing its sell-by date”. The question is, Reds, would you update the existing Old Trafford or knock it down and start again?
Featured Images — Ank Kumar (via Wikimedia Commons)
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Stockport County’s playoff fortunes hampered following Callum Camps injury
Danny Jones
Stockport County’s luck as we head into the crunch time period has taken a less than ideal turn as Callum Camps is confirmed to be injured.
The club now has a clearer idea of how long he’ll be out for, but it’s not great news.
Camps was subbed off in just the 21st minute during County‘s recent away clash with title contenders Wrexham after a full-blooded tackle by fellow midfielder George Dobson – a challenge which went unpunished on the day, much to the frustration of the travelling fans.
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester on Friday, 28 March, manager Dave Challinor revealed that the physios expect him to be out for “at least 6 weeks”, meaning he’ll likely miss the rest of the season.
🔵 Stockport midfielder Callum Camps is out for at least 6 weeks. #StockportCounty
As one of County’s most crucial and experienced players, his presence in the middle of the park is likely to be a big miss, especially with the playoff scraps looming large for the promotion hopefuls.
Challinor acknowledged that it’s a big blow not only for the club but the Tameside-born Northern Ireland international, cutting a quietly frustrated figure in his interview and giving away little regarding Camps’ current mentality besides his obvious “disappointment.”
At 29 years old and running out of contract this summer, the injury will no doubt bring an added pressure regarding his future as well, though you would suspect most Stopfordians would like to see him stay at Edgeley Park come 2025/26 if possible.
Not only a reliable operator in the engine room but also considered by plenty of fans as one of their best players this season, there’ll be lots of Hatters worrying how much of an impact this will have on how this year’s League One conclusion pans out.
Even with prior fitness issues in recent years, he’s still managed to make an impact and work his way back into the first-choice matchday squad, and many believe he should be more of a mainstay on the teamsheet for his national team.
Callum Camps was just sublime today and made the difference when he came on. If he’d have been fit more often he’d be right up there as one of our players of the season, he’s been right at it whenever he’s played. https://t.co/7oMZYutCCp
— The Stockport County Shirt Collection (@countyshirts) February 15, 2025
To make matters worse, he’s not the only one set to watch the remaining games from the sidelines, as defender Ryan Rydel also looks set to be out for the next few weeks.
Following an injury suffered at Bolton Wanderers the week prior to the Wrexham game, the Oldham-born left-back who had made 15 appearances for County this season – half of those as an increasingly regular young member of the starting XI – a hamstring problem looks to have cut his campaign short too.
With just over half a dozen league fixtures left, it’ll be interesting to see how they’ll fare if they stay within the playoff places as predicted.
It’s been a frustrating few months for Stockport as they also had to bid a reluctant goodbye to rising star and high-flying loanee Louie Barry, who was recalled by his parent club Aston Villa only for him to be loaned out to Hull City and end up getting injured himself.
When it rains, it pours, as they say.
Infuriating Dobson was allowed to get away with that pretty much for free and now we'll be without a key player for the rest of the season.
The 2025 Manchester Marathon is set to create the UK’s biggest-ever day of running
Danny Jones
The 2025 Manchester Marathon is just a month away now and as this year’s race is once again set to coincide with another major event (quite literally), it’s about to become the biggest day of runningin UK history.
Like, ever…
Greater Manchester is no stranger to making sporting history, be it athletics, football, tennis or otherwise – you name it, we can lay our claim to plenty.
However, stuff like this always makes us feel part of something truly ‘greater’ and genuinely special as the tens of thousands preparing to run through the city centre and surrounding areas are about to put us in the record books in the running world.
Credit: Manchester Marathon
As more than 36,000 racers, joggers, fundraisers and downright legends are scheduled to take on the Manchester Marathon this year – with the annual event on course to break its attendance record – even more will be taking on the equivalent down south, given it is one of the official World Majors.
Recently, the Manchester and London Marathons have been colliding, and with the 2025 editions of both due to take place on the same day for the second year in a row, it means there’ll be an unprecedented number of participants taking on the 26.2-mile challenge.
More accurately, it’s predicted that over 90,000 runners will be out on the roads of the nation’s capital and its second city (yeah, you heard us, Birmingham), which will be the greatest concurrent number in British history – at least on record when it comes to marathons.
The potential milestones don’t stop with just those taking part, either; as per an official press release from the event time, it’s predicted to be a record-breaking day for charity too.
An estimated £80m is set to be raised for charitable causes, including the adidas Manchester Marathon charity partners: the British Heart Foundation, Alzheimer’s Society, The Christie and Cancer Research UK. Incredible stuff.
In one month you’ll be making your way to the 2025 adidas Manchester Marathon start line!📢
We are buzzing – are you? Comment the GIF that best describes how you are feeling one month out ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/1ioROLfejW
Commenting on what will be a historic day for UK Marathons, Andrew Smith, CEO of A.S.O. UK, said: “Having the adidas Manchester Marathon and the London Marathon take place on the same day — Sunday 27th April — marks a landmark moment for British running.
“We’re incredibly proud to be part of this historic occasion, inspiring 90,000 people to take on 26.2 miles, supported by nearly a million spectators across the country.
As if all this wasn’t already momentous enough, nearly a million spectators are expected to line the streets to cheer on all the PB hopefuls and fundraisers – we can only hope for similarly groundbreaking crowds and levels of support to mark the occasion.
Danny Jones -
6th February 2024 
