Andy Burnham defends controversial Man Utd spending plan to fund new stadium

Andy Burnham has said criticism surrounding how Manchester United plan to fund their new stadium is too 'simplistic'.

The club announced on Friday that a joint task force has been created to advise United on whether to build a new stadium or redevelop the existing ground, while working in conjunction with local partners as part of a regeneration project.

Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has been included in that task force, with Gary Neville also involved in a project that is to be spearheaded by Lord Sebastian Coe. But the task force is merely advisory and it is Sir Jim Ratcliffe and United who will ultimately make the final decision. 

The 71-year-old’s plans have come under scrutiny with the UK’s second richest man admitting in a recent interview that he planned to apply for public funding as part of the government’s ‘Levelling Up’ policy, to help pay for the stadium.

But speaking at Old Trafford on Saturday ahead of the Premier League game against Everton, Burnham said there is nothing unusual about this joint public-private partnership, and pointed to the Toffees’ new Bramley Moor ground as a previous example that has drawn on taxpayer funds.

“This idea about paying for the stadium … that’s such a simplistic debate,” he explained to reporters. “It is about the wider enabling. If Sir Jim goes big with his vision, we will need transport infrastructure to support it, we will need to put investment in ours to support that so the jobs can come in around it. That’s what is at stake here.

“It’s a false debate. Look at Bramley Moore, Everton’s new stadium,” he added. “The Liverpool city region has put some enabling funding in there. It is always done that mate. This is no different. It has to be a public-private partnership. Even to refurbish Old Trafford will have to be a public-private partnership.

“You look at any new-build stadium in the last 20 or 30 years there will have been some public funds involved in terms of infrastructure and supporting development. Look at the example of West Ham, lots of public money has gone in to some developments around the country because of what it can bring to the country.”

It’s an argument that won’t satisfy everyone, especially with the Glazers failing to invest significant funds in the ground’s restoration in the last two decades. But Burnham also pointed to a distinctive aspect of Old Trafford’s structure that means this has to be a publicly funded project.

“This ground is fairly unique in having a train station that is almost part of the fabric of the ground. A train station that is not being used at the moment because it’s not designed in the right way,” he said. “That itself says if you were to refurbish the stand as part of that approach, you would have to do something to move that station and that would require public money.

“It is too much of a narrow debate to say how much has the club got and who is paying for the stadium. It is much bigger than that and I think you need to see it in that way otherwise people won’t understand what is at stake here."

The newly formed task force comprises several groups, including representatives from Trafford Council, United Fans’ Advisory Board and Supporters’ Trust, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and both Manchester universities. As well as looking to develop United's ground, the plans also would help regenerate the Old Trafford area, the nearby Wharfside, Salford Quays and MediaCity.

“From our point of view there is nothing bigger in world football than the name Manchester United,” Burnham explained. “If we unlock the full power of this club in terms of its power to regenerate then that is fantastic for Greater Manchester in terms of jobs, new investment into the city-region.

“If you look at this area investment has gone in to MediaCity but if you look around at the wider area there’s not been a huge amount in recent decades. This could be the biggest regeneration project in the north of England that we will ever see - it could be that big.

“But it depends on the club, the club has got a decision to make about is the stadium refurbished or is it new build. But whatever the club decides we will support them on that and either scenario is massive for Greater Manchester. We’re standing behind the club to ensure the maximum benefit is achieved for the economy of Greater Manchester.

“Only Milan and Manchester have two Champions League winners in a city and that sets Manchester apart," he added. "You could make an argument that this is the biggest city in world football because of the two clubs we have got within it. But if the ambitious vision comes through, either refurbished or new build, there would be no doubt about that.”