Club adviser: Man United new stadium's 'circus top design' likely to be scrapped as Ratcliffe gets reality check
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(Credit: Imago) Sun 5 April 2026 20:30, UK Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is going to be forced to change his plans for a new Old Trafford.That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who ‘wouldn’t be surprised” if a new stadium is not built.The stadium project is facing rising costs and the build has yet to commence, with no timeline over when it will begin.Man United remain locked in a dispute with Freightliner over acquiring land adjacent to Old Trafford, which is valued at £400million.The plans to build a 100,000-seater stadium also faces issues due to rising debt at Man United, but once completed the club’s matchday revenue would significantly increase. 💰 Man United Finance Update 💰 Inside the transfer budget, player wages, Ineos investment, and the latest Old Trafford redevelopment news. VISIT THE FINANCE HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Man United stadium issues ‘won’t be resolved soon’Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes events in the Middle East mean costs are “going through the roof.”Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks Man United face a “difficult” situation to complete their stadium project.Annual Turnover£666.5mDebt£1.3bnMatchday Revenue£160.3mBroadcasting Income£172.9mFigures based on Manchester United 2025 Annual Accounts.He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Things like that circus top design may have to go.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we ended up with an Old Trafford regeneration in some way as well when it comes to it. “We’re all going to see building supplies, transportation of things going through the roof if things don’t get resolved fairly soon.
“Even when the world gets back to normal, it’s going to be at a different price level, and so don’t be surprised if that beautiful image doesn’t actually appear. I think the reality of the world is going to hit Jim Ratcliffe, and he knows more than anybody right now about refineries and all those sorts of things.