Why Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants a new Old Trafford for Manchester United

Standing in the Old Trafford press conference room in January, Sir Jim Ratcliffe was asked for his first impressions of the stadium. He declined to comment but the body language was telling.

Ratcliffe was more candid at the Ineos office in Knightsbridge two weeks ago. Old Trafford is "run down and neglected in places". He opined knocking it down and rebuilding it is a "no-brainer".

United were established as Newton Heath but they will be remaining in Trafford. The Manchester Evening News revealed last month the club could play games without having to move to another stadium as the site footprint is large enough to accommodate building a new Old Trafford while safely hosting matches at their home since 1910.

READ MORE: United announce members of Old Trafford regeneration task force

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Ratcliffe believes a large amount of land United own around Old Trafford is underused and could be repurposed for housing, leisure, business and education to drive investment and jobs in the area. The Ineos chairman added the museum is "crap" and the Megastore is "too small".

United moved their club shop into the stadium in 2000 and it was the biggest in Europe at the time. Ratcliffe knows United have stood still on the Glazer family's watch.

Members of the task force Ratcliffe has assembled, chaired by Lord Sebastian Coe, feel there is an opportunity to link Old Trafford and Wharfside with MediaCity on the other side of Salford Quays to create a major economic and social hub. Stadium masterplanners Populous submitted options for redeveloping Old Trafford or building a new one on club-owned land in 2022. 30,000 fans were surveyed on the future of the stadium before the Glazer family announced