Since losing legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson to retirement in May of 2013, Manchester United have struggled to get anywhere near the heights they enjoyed under the fiery Scotsman.
According to the best betting sites UK consumers can choose from, the team are more likely to get relegated this season than finish in the top four, with odds of 1,000/1 for a top-four spot showing just how far they have dropped.
Sports betting expert Margaret Doyle explains that UK sports betting sites typically have a strong focus on football markets, but even the most loyal of Manchester United fans would be unlikely to back them at present.
There has been little to cheer this season, but Sir Jim Ratcliffe has announced plans to build a new 100,000 seater stadium, making it the largest in the UK.
New Manchester United Stadium Plans
After consultation, it was decided that building a new stadium would be a better option than renovating the current Old Trafford stadium. The existing stadium was opened in 1910 and has become one of the most iconic footballing arenas in the world, known as the “Theatre of Dreams”, it has already undergone renovations and improvements, with the last major work taking place in 2006.
The £2 billion project would see the new stadium created near Old Trafford, with a projected timescale of 5 years. The plans are part of a wider regeneration project for the area that would also see the creation of 17,000 new homes and could potentially create 92,000 new jobs.
The pre-fabricated construction would include three, 200-meter high masts and Foster and Partners architects believe it could become one of the best football stadiums in the world.
Manchester United’s Current Issues
Despite announcing what should be exciting news for the future of the club, there will be some fans questioning where the club will find the £2 billion it will take to fund the proposal, and what that will mean on the pitch.
Manchester United’s current financial situation is well documented, with the club facing debts of around £1 billion. Recent cost cutting measures at the club have already made headlines with layoffs and canteen closures causing ripples of discontent among those close to the club.
Fans across social media have been quick to point out that many of these cost-cutting measures, including losing valuable staff who have worked at the club for years, pale in significance when compared to the wages of some of the club’s highest earners who have failed to deliver on the pitch.
Casemiro is reported to be on around £300,000 per week, Mason Mount on £250,000 per week, and Luke Shaw earns around £150,000 per week, but none have been making an impact this season for one reason or another. This barely scratches the surface with other big earners like Rashford, Antony, and Sancho potentially returning to the team following their loan spells.
Co-owner Ratcliffe has already acknowledged that many of the squad are overpaid and not good enough to take the club where it needs to be. These issues have severely impacted new manager Ruben Amorim’s ability to play to his preferred system or make the changes he wants.
If United are to improve next season, and this will be a priority for everyone involved with the club, they will need to move players on and reduce their over-inflated wage bill. However, with a £2 billion construction project on the horizon, many fans will have concerns that funds will not be allocated to strengthening the squad.
Since Amorim took over in November, Manchester United have played 26 times, winning just 10, losing 9, and drawing 7 times. This leaves him with a win percentage of 38.46%. When compared to his 76.92% record at Braga, albeit this was only across 13 games, and 71% at Sporting CP across 231 games, it is clear that the problems at the club need to be addressed.
What Will Happen to Old Trafford?
Another major concern for a lot of United fans will be the prospect of leaving their beloved ground. Old Trafford has been home to the club for 115 years and is a major part of the local community.
While it makes sense from a business point of view, it will be difficult for a lot of fans who love the history and atmosphere of historic football grounds. There is a fear that the game is being sanitised to some degree, and the working class fans that helped build the clubs are being priced out of the game.
Modern stadiums are seen as a symbol of this change that has gone from thousands standing shoulder to shoulder on terraces, to tourists snacking on popcorn and trying to get photos of Premier League stars.
