Man Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe slams breaks on Old Trafford plans after 50k fans vote

A general exterior view of the Sir Alex Ferguson stand at Old Trafford (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt/Getty Images)

Manchester United have put off the decision regarding the future of Old Trafford as Sir Jim Ratcliffe hesitates over tearing down the legendary stadium.

Ratcliffe, a co-owner of United, had previously supported the idea of demolishing Old Trafford to construct a state-of-the-art £2billion, 100,000-seater stadium on the same site. The club is in dire need of a new home, with the existing Old Trafford falling into disrepair, and the holes in the roof being used as a weapon against the Glazer family.

The club has been actively consulting the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, which includes Lord Sebastian Coe, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and ex-United captain Gary Neville, while also seeking the views of fans. The Telegraph now reveals that they have decided the best course of action is to postpone the decision until next summer, with a report from the task force expected by year's end.

The delay in the Old Trafford visionary project is mainly due to the necessity of acquiring additional land, a step that Manchester United believes is crucial for delivering the "bold and brave" vision set by the Regeneration Task Force. They have their sights on neighbouring land, currently a rail freight terminal, which is essential to propel their audacious 100-acre regeneration scheme forward.

Manchester United co owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe (Image: Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)

The Red Devils are in quest of sharper clarity on their choices, including potentially moving the freight terminal, before making their ultimate decision. Top brass like Burnham and Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram are seeking a bargain with Freightliner to relocate the freight depot to St Helens, thereby liberating space for the much-anticipated renovation of Old Trafford.

Despite having to drum up its own finances for the main works, the club might receive a financial leg-up with public money slated for associated transit and infrastructure improvements. They are thus pausing for the Mayors budget release in March, hopeful that funds will be earmarked specifically for their expansive redevelopment plan.

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Contemplations of constructing an entirely new stadium seem to be winning favour - a sentiment mirrored by the fans. Out of 500,000 polled United aficionados, 52 per cent were enthusiastic about a new stadium while 31 per cent would advocate for revamping the existing one.

Inspired by the extravagant SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, which boasts a 70,000 capacity alongside 'Hollywood Park', a concert venue seat for 6,000, lavish apartments and hotels, petrochemicals tycoon Ratcliffe is drawing up plans for a similar mesmerising sports and entertainment district.

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In March, he highlighted the region's unique position in the footballing world: "The north-west of England has a greater concentration of major football clubs than anywhere else in the world, yet we don't have a stadium on the scale of Wembley, the Nou Camp or Bernabeu," adding the significance of collaboration: "We will not be able to change that on our own, which is why this task force is so important to help us seize this once-in-a-century opportunity."

Man Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe slams breaks on Old Trafford plans after 50k fans vote

Man Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe slams breaks on Old Trafford plans after 50k fans vote

Man Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe slams breaks on Old Trafford plans after 50k fans vote

Man Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe slams breaks on Old Trafford plans after 50k fans vote

Man Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe slams breaks on Old Trafford plans after 50k fans vote