Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has hinted that he would potentially favour building a new stadium in the vicinity of the current Old Trafford.
Neville was recently appointed to a taskforce chaired by Lord Seb Coe which aims to identify the best action to take regarding the future of Old Trafford. It has become no secret among match-going supporters that the Theatre of Dreams is in desperate need of redevelopment.
Following the defeat to Arsenal last month, Old Trafford's roof buckled under a heavy rain storm which led to severe leaks in the roof which spilled into the stands and even the away dressing room. This incident came while Neville was in attendance as well as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer who met with the INEOS founder to discuss the regeneration project.
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Appearing on the club's official Utd Podcast, Neville claimed he would not oppose an entirely new stadium being built. "I’m not one of those that says that because I’ve watched football out there for 45 years that I need to watch the exact same players on that exact blade of grass," he said.
"You know, if you think of the development, that is not the stadium that’s been there 110 years. You know, the Stretford End is not the Stretford End that I saw growing up.
"The stands all around the ground have been redeveloped in the last 30-40 years. I’m not one of those people who says we can’t develop behind while we still play here and then move into a new stadium.
"On the other hand, if the best solution is to refurbish the current stadium and do what Real Madrid and Barcelona have done, which is essentially wrap their stadium and sort of if you like, fit it from the inside out, then if that is the best solution then I’m not against it." When asked why he chose to join the taskforce, Neville added that he felt a duty to contribute to United's future.
"I think it’s the one thing that actually I can contribute to," he concluded. "I don’t think that there is a role for me at the club in any other department.
"I think that I’m happy there is action on the other side of the club. I think that’s really important.
"There’s been inaction I feel for 10 years, and I think now that we’ve got a sort of interference within the ownership that there is at least action. There have been sweeping changes made in the last few months and now we have to be patient and see what happens in the next two or three years.
"What I am absolutely certain of is that we need to have a stadium that is up there with some of the other great stadiums in Europe and in this country at this moment in time, Tottenham is the benchmark. It’s a stunning stadium, brand new, and we need to get to that level.
"United is a club that has to be inspired and motivated by its history, but be a modern club that moves forward and that means from a people perspective, and it means from a place perspective."
