Leaking OT Roofs: Sir Jim Ratcliffe Meets Labour Leader For New Trafford Plans

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer met with Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe on Sunday to discuss the redevelopment of Old Trafford.

The PA news agency understands Starmer attended United’s Premier League game against Arsenal as a guest of Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, who is a member of the task force exploring options for how to revitalise United’s home ground.

Old Trafford leaking roofs

United’s need for a new or redeveloped ground was reaffirmed on Sunday with stark footage of torrential rain cascading through Old Trafford like a waterfall.

Thunder boomed over United’s iconic home as the two sides approached full time, with the storm showing no signs of stopping so much so that a barrage of water was seen pouring down from the roof in one corner of the East Stand under the dark Manchester sky.

It could be seen trickling down the sloped entrance out onto the pitch and building up at the opening into a large puddle.

The pitch appeared was later seen covered with large puddles on the surface.

The conditions certainly further highlight the work that is needed at Old Trafford, the club’s home for 114 years.

Any moves to attract public funds would be for wider regeneration than a new stadium itself and Ratcliffe has now outlined what he has previously called a “once in a century” opportunity to Starmer – who could yet become the country’s next Prime Minister – before United’s Premier League defeat by Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Starmer, an Arsenal fan, was at the game as a guest of Andy Burnham, the recently re-elected Mayor of Greater Manchester who is also on the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force and joined in the talks with the Labour leader.

A United source said: “At this stage, the focal point of the project is the development of a world-class football stadium.

“But undoubtedly, a wider opportunity exists to regenerate Trafford Park into a thriving sports, leisure, and business campus – delivering huge positive social and economic benefits for the community and the region.

“The meeting is part of the ongoing engagement with political leaders on a national, regional, and local level as the task force continues to explore the options for the project.”

Ratcliffe favours a new build over redevelopment of United’s existing Old Trafford home but the viability of the project is being explored in greater depth by the task force, which also includes former United captain Gary Neville.

Burnham said in March that the project could have a bigger impact on the west of Manchester than the 2012 Olympics had on east London and should demand public money as potentially the biggest regeneration project in the history of the north of England.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s plan for a new Trafford

New minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has pledged to spend an initial £237million on infrastructure at the 74,310 capacity ground.

Redevelopment of the existing site costing in the region of £1billion and building a new stadium altogether requiring a £2billion outlay, the task force will also examine options for financing the project.