Stadium not reliant on taxpayer money - Roche

Architects Foster and Partners created the designs for a new 100,000 capacity stadium for Manchester UnitedImage source, Manchester United FC
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Manchester United's chief operating officer Collette Roche has assured local taxpayers no central funding will be used to build the club's proposed new £2bn stadium.

Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has previously talked about the Government helping out with the project, which many have interpreted to mean the planned 100,000-capacity ground on land close to the current Old Trafford.

However, speaking on the We Built This City podcast, external, Roche, who is leading the project from a club perspective said that was not the case and said the assistance was needed for a wider regeneration.

"Absolutely not," said Roche, when asked if public money would be used to build the stadium.

"We understand the stadium is our responsibility. We want to provide a great stadium for our fans. We will pay the £2bn I think it is at the last estimate to be able to do that.

"But there is no point building the biggest or the best stadium in the UK and it being on an island and you can't get to it because the transport links aren't there or people can't come on non-matchday or local businesses can't be part of it.

"Our ask of the Government is that they support, not the stadium build, but really support the infrastructure and regeneration of the area."

"We understand the stadium is our responsibility. We want to provide a great stadium for our fans. We will pay the £2bn to do that."

In the Fans' Forum minutes released earlier this week, United said they were still hopeful of doing a deal for the land behind Old Trafford, which is currently being used as a freight terminal but is needed to complete the project.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has already given his support and a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) - a statutory body with powers to help drive forward large-scale developments - is being set up to help deliver the project.

Roche feels there has to be a commitment from the Labour government to give the project, which she calls "once in a lifetime", added impetus.

"It's an amazing opportunity we've got," she said. "Not just for Manchester United, but also for the region.

"While we will build a stadium that is great for our team, the club and our fans, it is so much more than that. It's not just a Manchester United vision, it's a vision for the region.

"That's why Andy Burnham and Trafford Council are really keen to work with us."