Gary Neville, one of the most successful figures of Manchester United’s past, is now having a say on their future.
The former United defender has been appointed to a task force charged with exploring the regeneration of Old Trafford and its surrounding area, with a world-class football stadium at its heart.
Chaired by Sebastian Coe, other members include Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, Sara Todd, chief executive of Trafford Council, and Duncan Drasdo, CEO of Manchester United Supporters Trust.
The Athletic reported this morning that the Old Trafford task force is to deliver their recommendation for the future of Manchester United’s stadium by the end of December.
But what exactly is the task force? What is Neville’s role? And does he want a new stadium or a redevelopment?
With a survey being sent to all United’s season ticket holders later this week, Neville spoke to The Athletic.
What is your role on the task force?
“To be part of a body of people who have fan or stakeholder interest — be it local councils, the mayor, business people, real estate developers, university representation. The reason I was chosen is multi-faceted: I played for United, I support United, I’ve got a business in the area, a university too.
“We’re all there not to help Manchester United build the best stadium but to make sure that the best outcome is arrived at for everybody in Trafford, Greater Manchester and beyond. We know that Manchester United want to build or refurbish/redevelop. We don’t know which solution will be arrived at.
“We are there to represent the local and wider community. There is massive potential for something transformational. There are up to 100 acres around that stadium and the task force forms part of a wider consultation with fans, the community — there’s national representation on there as well.
“It’s not just about a football stadium. It’s a wide body of people and we don’t want to miss any part of the opportunity around employment, education, health, jobs, infrastructure and transport. Whatever Manchester United do with the stadium will be the catalyst.”
How are fans going to be consulted?
“A couple of years ago, ticket holders, of which I’m one, were sent an extensive consultation questionnaire to give their opinions on what this new stadium/redevelopment should look like. I filled mine in. The new survey will be an updated version of that.
“Fans — season ticket holders, members, executive fans — will receive an email, a questionnaire, where they will be invited to give their opinions on all things Manchester United, all things stadium, all things regeneration. That will form part of the wider piece of work so that opportunities don’t get missed. It’ll be followed by focus groups.
“On a micro level, fans will be asked things like what the most important thing to them as a fan is in respect of their seat or view. Granular detail, right up to what they want the outcome of the regeneration to be.
“When the results are in, the club and the task force will analyse all the results along with the wider consultations that are going on — with residents for example — then make sure, where possible, to hit the right notes and make the wider masterplan as inclusive as possible. There are amazing architects on board, amazing master planners, but they must take on board what the people would like.
“We can’t get away from the fact that Manchester United need a world-class stadium. That is prominent, but it’s wider than that. It’s about fan experiences and journeys to the stadium, both on matchdays and non-matchdays.
You’re a United fan. What’s your view? Redevelop Old Trafford or a new stadium?
“Everyone gets bogged down on whether it should be a new stadium or a redevelopment — and rightly so. That’s the question where everyone is at. Honestly, I’ve got a vast experience in redevelopment and rebuild in real estate. One or the other is not the most important thing to me.
“Whether we create a new and bigger version of Tottenham’s stadium or do what Real Madrid did with the Bernabeu. Either outcome for me is a success because if Manchester United end up with a world-class stadium, new or developed, I genuinely don’t care.
“What I want to see is a world of Manchester United around that stadium, of opportunity, hope and belief. It sounds Disneyfied, but I don’t mean a theme park. I mean where people visit that area and think, ‘Wow’.
“Look at the old Wembley that fans visited many times. And look at it now. There has been a significant change in the area around the stadium. Thousands of jobs and homes have been created.
“Look at Olympic Park and how it transformed Stratford and transport links for the Olympics. Trafford Park could become a zone within Greater Manchester that is beautifully designed and with brilliant areas to visit. Now much of it is an industrial wasteland.
“In five, six or seven years, I want United to have the best stadium and training ground in the world, plus doing the right things on the football side. That will come again and we’re patient.
“Manchester is changing as a city. There’s a construction boom with a skyline that is looking like a large American city. Yet there’s a housing shortage, especially affordable housing. It’s a big site around Old Trafford, the transport infrastructure has already been much improved, and there’s a waterside. So much potential.
“It’s not Manchester United’s job to answer all the issues, to fix all the problems. United’s job is to have a winning football team and a great stadium. But the club’s purpose and values should be to have the maximum positive impact. The club should be the best on and off the pitch.”
There was some talk of, even if a new stadium is built, retaining Old Trafford in some form, perhaps as a reserve or women’s stadium. What’s your view?
“Manchester United do need a purpose-built stadium for the youth teams and women’s teams. I’m not sure bringing Old Trafford down from a 74,000-capacity stadium to one that holds, say, 15,000 will be the smartest thing to do financially, but that needs looking at and analysing by the group.
“There’s another thing about Old Trafford. None of the stands that were there when I first went in 1979 are there in the same form. Most of the stands have been built between 1993 and 2005. We’d not be keeping anything that is 100 years old. What is it that we’d be saving? Yes, we must keep the statues, the Munich clock or tunnel. They must be a part of whatever Old Trafford becomes.
“I get that the location of the pitch is important to some fans but I was at Tottenham vs Arsenal on Sunday. I don’t think any Tottenham fans went there thinking about the location of the pitch and that it’s different to the one Glenn Hoddle played on.
“I’m not overly emotional about the stadium. As long as United get a world-class refurbishment or a world-class new stadium, then United fans win. And at least there is an action plan to do something about it after years of nothing.”
Who pays for it?
“That’s the million-dollar question. Fans understand football finance more than before, they understand debts and loans.
“This is going to cost a lot of money. In Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United now have one of the most successful business people in the world within their shareholder group who understands how to fund, how to access funds and how to do things in such a way that the club doesn’t come under undue pressure. He understands funding structures and can help the club come up with a solution that is acceptable to the club and the fans.
“The task force is not there to look at solutions to the funding and different options. Our job is to make recommendations to the club, to make sure that the guard rails are up to make sure that the club create as big an opportunity as possible, but the club also must work out how this is funded.
“Fans should fill in the questionnaire. Some may be sceptical, thinking: ‘They’re not going to listen to me’. One thing I can assure you of is that there are 15-20 people sitting around that task force table who are absolutely aware that the fans and local residents opinions are critical to this. They are all represented.
“Fans should put their views forward. They have a massive voice, they’re the most important people in football and this is an opportunity to put something forward that would mean we can support, with evidence, what we are looking to recommend from the task force in a few months.”
(Top photo: Gary Neville by Jess Hornby via Getty Images)
