With Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority takeover of Manchester United expected to be signed off on next month, many fans will be wondering just how much of a quiet say he now gets in decisions as not only are we forging ahead with January transfer window plans, but according to some recent reports, we are progressing with plans for a new world-class training ground, that will see us depart the incredibly well used Carrington base.
A report this week from the Daily Mail has claimed that we are now looking into golf courses as potential new site options, and that we are focusing on the South Manchester area because we are naturally concerned about the additional development potential of Carrington. There is also a claim that we have already held preliminary talks with one unnamed club as we found that site suitable, after talks with High Legh Park failed to reach a conclusion – a Knutsford woodland course that was apparently preferable given it is situated near where many of the current crop of players actually live.
Whilst many fans are looking at AFCON betting sites in Zambia with Premier League stars in action for their country, even though the winter break is with us, domestic issues continue, and the Red Devils are clearly not alone in addressing them.
No real decisions are said to have been taken so far, it is suggested we are simply looking at the associated costs of maxing out the Carrington site versus the costs of a now truly built newly purposed complex. Obviously we have been at Carrington since 1999, but football, support, sports science, and even Academy requirements have changed massively since then, so there is a lot of sense in a new construct that is purpose built being the way forward. At Carrington, if we max out the building potential, we then reportedly have concerns about the required parking space for players and staff.
In terms of specifics as the club compare Carrington to potential new sites, it is said our minimum demand is at least 100 acres of buildable land to fulfil our true dreams of a new world class, and football leading facility, because we acknowledge our current training camp is no longer elite level – ie the facilities enjoyed by rivals City and the likes of Tottenham Hotspur.
There is also the possibility that we may spread our training resources between two sites, including The Cliff, but obviously there is a preference to keep all playing sides together – but that depends on the size of a suitable site.
The fly in the ointment for many fans, after the experience of the Glazers and their penchant for business practices, will be in learning Ratcliffe’s INEOS hold the rights to explore shale gas over large parts of Trafford – including Carrington, as they have a 60% share in an onshore and gas licence.
Now, that might be a complete red herring when you look at potential costs of relocating versus potential profits of drilling, but some will naturally and understandably ask the question as the media are.
We will simply have to see what comes of this.
