Glazers broke one of Sir Alex Ferguson's golden rules at Man Utd with stadium decision

The Glazers once inadvertently broke one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s golden rules while sanctioning work at Old Trafford, it has been claimed.

On Tuesday the Daily Telegraph claimed that incoming minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to create a new stadium for United.

The report added that Ratcliffe wanted to build a ‘Wembley of the North’ on the same sight as Old Trafford, to rival the 90,000-seater national stadium in London.

Ratcliffe is allegedly against the idea of relocating the club but feels supporters will back a stadium change provided they stay within the same land. United own around 100 acres of land around Old Trafford, with 43 acres of that land said to be ripe for development.

United fans have long called for Old Trafford to have a facelift. The stadium is 114 years old and had no notable modernisation since the Glazers bought the club in 2005.

However, according to ESPN, on one occasion the Glazers did at least attempt to smarten up the ground with a a fresh layer of paint - only to use the wrong shade of red.

"They tried to smarten up Old Trafford with a paint job a couple of years ago," a United source told ESPN. "But they messed it up.

“They used the wrong shade of red. When Sir Alex was in charge, he would always insist that United played in a darker shade of red than Liverpool. Nike, kit partners at the time, even designed a specific shade for the team's kit called 'Diablo Red.'

"The paint they used for Old Trafford is Liverpool red -- it's too bright for United."

Former United captain Gary Neville has been among those to have been vocal about the need to improve the Old Trafford facilities.

Ratcliffe reportedly has plans for a new United stadium (Getty)

"Maybe what Liverpool have done is the way forward," he told Sky Sports late last year.

"If there is a shortage of funds, maybe get one or two stands, absolutely world-class, and the other two follow up over the next five to 10 years. That would be a plan."

He added: "I've heard that there is only a couple of hundred million of pounds or so being spent on Old Trafford. That's nowhere near enough.

"I'd rather have £200m spent on the old stadium and have two parts of Old Trafford looking absolutely amazing.

"It's important that you have pride in where you play and Old Trafford is an amazing stadium."