Manchester United’s land battle with Freightliner rumbles on, but the club have a chance to ensure it does not delay their plans for a 100,000-capacity new home.
Last month, Mail Sport revealed how the Premier League giants were miles apart from the owners of the rail terminal — which adjoins Old Trafford and is key to the project — over their valuation of the land.
United sources, who believe the land is worth £40million, feel the company are attempting to cash in with a significantly higher valuation, and one solution could be a compulsory purchase order.
However, Inside Sport understands United could acquire a portion of the land, which would allow them to build the stadium, then buy the rest down the line. United are hoping to be in their new home
Manchester United’s land battle with Freightliner rumbles on – but a solution is in sight
United sources feel Freightliner are attempting to cash in with a significantly higher valuation
The Red Devils could acquire a portion of the land, which would allow them to build the stadium
PSR OUT?
PLANS to replace existing financial rules with a Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) — where the amount clubs can spend on wages and transfers is limited to a percentage of their revenue — appear to be gathering pace.
Championship clubs will vote on Monday on whether to introduce mandatory reporting — which would force teams to submit financial information so the EFL can assess the potential effect of replacing profit and sustainability rules with SCR.
The latter has already been adopted by UEFA. Championship clubs can currently lose up to £39m over a three-year period.
EFL RECEIVE APOLOGY
Sheffield Wednesday’s supporters’ trust have apologised to the EFL for making derogatory remarks about the organisation during a meeting of fans last week.
The two groups have met recently to discuss the developing crisis at Wednesday under the ownership of Thai businessman Dejphon Chansiri.
As Mail Sport reported, there are concerns Sunday’s season opener at Leicester City could be under threat, although club sources are confident it will go ahead.
Tensions are understandably high, and it is to be hoped a solution is found as soon as possible for an institution of English football.
Sheffield Wednesday’s supporters’ trust have apologised to the EFL for making derogatory remarks about the organisation
PREMIER LEAGUE AND PFA BLASTED
Football Families for Justice (FFJ) — the campaign group calling on the sport to tackle its dementia crisis — have blasted a report released by the PFA and Premier League into the impact of the Football Brain Health Fund.
The document hails the achievements of the fund, which has seen £2.3million allocated to 153 families since its launch in September 2023.
John Stiles — son of World Cup winner Nobby, who died after a battle with dementia — described it as ‘shameful’.
‘The shocking report confirms the fund will only provide care after the player and family have secured whatever can be provided by the local authority and NHS, meaning the taxpayer and the players and families will generally pay for the care they need,’ the former Leeds and Doncaster man said.
‘The report is sly, smug and superficial. To have spent under £670,000 on care home costs over the two years is an appalling failure bearing in mind the refusal of the fund to provide the requisite care to the likes of Gordon McQueen, Jimmy Robson, Joe Kinnear, Chris Nicholl and many other very vulnerable ex-players.
‘It is staggering to see (PFA chair) Maheta Molango’s annual salary of £650,000 is only slightly less than the amount spent on care home costs over two years.’
FFJ’s campaign has secured assurances of support from the Prime Minister and Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
PFA chairman Maheta Molango is among those criticised by Football Families for Justice
QATAR SHAKE UP 2036 RACE
QATAR caught their Indian rivals — and the International Olympic Committee — off guard with the announcement of their bid to host the 2036 Olympics.
Qatar are clearly keen for a competitive race, like the good old days when London and Paris duked it out for the 2012 Olympics.
Since then, the IOC have attempted to control the bid process, moving it from an election to a selection — which hurt Qatar’s previous bid.
But with new IOC boss Kirsty Coventry’s commitment to review the process, Qatar seem keen to set the agenda, and will be a force to be reckoned with for India and any other bidders.
