Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made clear his ambitions to regenerate Old Trafford and one of his first decisions was to invite Gary Neville on the task force.
We know from Hotel Football and other business ventures that Neville has his hand in everything, but we are also well aware that he has pride in the reputation of Manchester United. That as well as fan representation, with MUST CEO Duncan Drasdo also part of the regeneration task force, is certainly a step in the right direction.
Neville will be part of a committee that includes London 2012 Olympics bidder Lord Sebastian Coe.
It has been long understood that Ratcliffe wants to build a ‘Wembley of the North’ adjacent to the current Old Trafford stadium.
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is also a member of the task force.
Neville broke his silence on the task force invitation to speak the his passion he has for Old Trafford.
“What’s quite clear is that I won’t take a role at Manchester United. I’ve been very critical of the ownership over the last couple of years and I have not been offered a role at Manchester United,” Neville said, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.
“But, what I have always been incredibly passionate about is the surroundings, it doesn’t make me cry but it’s sad.
“I have a hotel within that acreage that Manchester United own and every time I look across that industrial wasteland and look across at the east of Manchester and see what is being built, one of the best indoor musicaries in the world, one of the best women’s and youth stadiums, one of the best training grounds, one of the most fantastic health and education centres.”
Neville has often ranted about the Glazers on Sky Sports and it doesn’t look like any club employees or executives will be involved in the task force.
He added: “I think there has been no development at all for 15 (to) 20 years around Old Trafford. You have got to win on the football pitch as a football club, but you have to win off the pitch and you have got to generate something around your ground that inspires the local community and inspires millions of people who come to Old Trafford every single year.
“There are jobs to be created and there’s houses to build, there’s commercial buildings to be worked in, there’s education and health and there’s all those things that can happen like a world of Manchester United I have always called it. I am not saying they are some of the things that will exist in this master plan, but I was asked to form and be part of a group that would regenerate Old Trafford and I do feel like that is where I feel most passionate about.
“It’s what I do in my non-football week, I love property and developing stuff because I have done it for 25 (to) 30 years of my life. I also love the idea of creating a place, and building things that are really important to not only people who live in Manchester, but also people who come to Manchester and visit Manchester every single year. I am proud to be part of it, it is the only area I would be part of and could bring real benefit to the club, and we will see what happens in the next sort of months and years.
“There is a lot of work to do and a lot of questions to answer.”
Most fans we speak to are still undecided about a new stadium. I feel we should be careful what we wish for if it means rises in season ticket prices.
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