OT SET FOR MORE DEVELOPMENT?

Steve Bates (with some decent boardroom contacts of course) reported in the Sunday People:

Manchester United are planning a sensational money-spinning move to increase Old Trafford's capacity to over 75,000.

I understand secret discussions are already under way on how best to fund a project that would increase United's current 67,800 capacity to make it easily the biggest club stadium in Britain.

Just days after Arsenal were given the go-ahead to build a new £400million, 60,000 stadium at Ashburton Grove, I can reveal United's heirarchy have decided in principle to pursue a rebuild of the South Stand to add a double tier of seats that will yield an extra £350,000 per match.

Spread over a 30-game home season that would generate over £10m, giving United even greater power in the transfer market at home and abroad.

Old Trafford's senior power-brokers are desperate to keep the ground expansion a secret while they implement a fresh feasibility study on a plan that has been discussed - and vetoed - in the recent past. Now, however, I understand several factors have led United's top brass to have a rethink.

Old Trafford is already recognised as the best stadium in Britain, regularly hosting England matches, FA Cup semi-finals and, last May, the prestigious Champions League Final between AC Milan and Juventus.

But despite increasing the capacity in the last few seasons to its current capacity of just under 68,000, United reject 12,000 ticket applications for most Premiership matches.

Director Paddy Harverson told the SP: “Sometimes for big games that figure touches 20,000.

“The club have huge support both at home and abroad. Quite simply, people want to come and watch Manchester United.”

The plan, however, is not without problems as directly behind the South Stand - where boss Sir Alex Ferguson watches his team - lies an operational railway line. The stand would have to overhang the railway line.