Sir Jim Ratcliffe took immediate action after damning footage emerged from Manchester United’s defeat to Arsenal.
United sank to a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal thanks to Leandro Trossard’s first-half goal after some terrible defending from Casemiro which drew major criticism from supporters.
Ratcliffe was in attendance five hours early at Old Trafford and was believed to be assessing match day operations as he continues his major overhaul since purchasing a 25% stake in the club.
The INEOS chief also met with Labour Party leader Keir Starmer and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham to discuss the future of United’s stadium, with Ratcliffe keen to build a ‘Wembley of the North’.
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Ratcliffe was given a first-hand view of the problems Old Trafford is currently facing when a fierce thunderstorm swamped the closing stages of the game.
Videos of water crashing down from the stadium’s roof went viral on social media in the aftermath and fan videos showed a flood pouring underneath seats and around the glass of the executive boxes.
As a result, Ratcliffe has wasted no time in ordering immediate action to solve some of the issues less than 24 hours after the defeat, with workers being sent to the top of the stadium to fix the roof according to The Daily Mail.
Workers in hard hats and high-vis jackets were pictured abseiling up and down the side of the stadium on Monday after Arsenal fans had sung ‘Old Trafford is falling down’ the day before.
The leaking roof has become a major issue for years under the Glazers’ ownership and a task force has been appointed to examine the options for redeveloping the Old Trafford area.
Lord Coe joins Burnham and former United defender Gary Neville on the committee who are expected to make their recommendations later this year.
Neville said: “While I want the best for Manchester United, I also want the same for the surrounding community."
Topics: Manchester United, Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Marcus Banks