Old Trafford plans on hold

MANCHESTER United have postponed plans to expand the capacity at Old Trafford to 88,000 because it would leave them temporarily homeless.

United have drawn up proposals three times in the past decade to redevelop the single-tier South Stand, which was renamed the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand two years ago. But managing director Richard Arnold said the engineering challenges were too great for the £200million development – complicated by a railway running behind the stand – and the club would have to find another home during any expansion.

Tottenham faced a similar issue and moved to Wembley while White Hart Lane was demolished and expanded, but United have no such option.

There is no stadium near Manchester of a size similar to Old Trafford, which has a capacity of 74,994, and all potential alternative venues host rival clubs.

The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust had led calls for an expansion, saying the club’s fans deserve for their stadium to be the largest in Europe.

But Arnold said: “It would be a multi-season challenge and it isn’t certain there’s a way of doing it that doesn’t render us homeless. We have the biggest fanbase in the country and we’re not in London, where we could use Wembley. It’s not a light challenge.” BEN MEE could miss the end of Burnley’s push for Europe with a shin injury that is set to rule him out for several weeks.

The defender, right, had to sit out last Saturday’s 2-1 win at Watford. He is also set to miss tomorrow’s home game against Leicester as the Clarets seek to secure a Europa League place.

Burnley go into the game sitting seventh in the Premier League.