Andy Burnham has been involved with plans for Man Utd's new 100,000 stadium, but he's set to become the next Prime Minister.
Burnham has been involved with plans for a new Old Trafford.(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester United don't expect their new stadium plans to be impacted by Andy Burnham's departure as Greater Manchester mayor. Burnham was appointed as a member of parliament for Makerfield last week, the first step to replacing Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.
Starmer announced he is stepping down as prime minister on Monday morning. Burnham, who has been involved in United's plans to build a new Old Trafford, is the heavy favourite to succeed Starmer in Downing Street.
However, United sources have confirmed that stadium plans will be unaffected because the Old Trafford regeneration project is covered by the Mayoral Development Corporation, which has been constituted by parliament and can only be unpicked by the government.
That means the stadium regeneration work Burnham has been involved in could not be undone by the new Greater Manchester mayor, even if Burnham's replacement is from another political party.
Burnham has previously spoken about the economic benefits the stadium project will bring to the area, saying: "We have a really clear principle here at the start of this journey with the Mayoral Development Corporation. Manchester United will be paying for the stadium.
"There will not be a penny of public money going into that, but we have absolutely a role to play in making everything around the stadium as good as it can be because of the economic benefit that brings.
"If you think about it, there is a train station behind the stand there and it's not been used for a number of years for safety reasons. Part of it would see that station relocated a little bit.
"Maybe a bit nearer Lou Macari's chippy or somewhere near there, and that would then reopen and massively benefit existing communities, Gorse Hill, Stretford and the people who live there, so the public benefit of this would be massive.
"Thousands of new homes, thousands of new jobs, so it's much wider than the ground itself."
United have confirmed stadium work is ongoing in the background, but the key to pushing on with plans for the 100,000-seater is striking a deal with Freightliner, who own the land behind Old Trafford.
Last summer, reports claimed Freightliner valued the land at £350million, although Burnham played down that figure, saying: "I think everyone should file that one away." Burnham mentioned that compulsory purchase powers could be used if necessary, though.