SELL TO BUY

Last updated : 28 September 2004 By editor

PLC chairman Sir Roy Gardner made it clear that the Rooney deal has already accounted for the whole transfer budget for 2005.

"Our plans were to bid for the player (Rooney) in summer 2005 but Newcastle United's bid and Everton's subsequent interest in selling him forced us to accelerate our plans or risk losing him, as a result, we have now spent next summer's transfer budget unless players are disposed of to realise cash for re-investment."

On the Stadium Expansion he added:

In March 2004 we announced a feasibility study to expand the stadium in the North East and North West quadrants. This project continues to progress well with £2.8 million already spent on preliminary works to divert services and develop the detailed plans. As a result of this study, the total expected cost of the project has been reduced to £39 million (previously estimated at £45 million) and the projected number of seats we expect to add has increased to 7,800, giving a stadium capacity of 75,600 at the start of the 2006/7 season. We submitted a planning application to Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council on 10 September 2004 and are currently awaiting the outcome of their consideration.