Man Utd followers face ‘very actual dangers’ if Old Trafford roof repair not ‘high precedence’
With a wide grin on his face, Arsenal legend Martin Keown could not help himself from poking fun at fallen giants Manchester United.
The BBC pundit joked the “roof is nearly as leaky as Manchester United’s defence” while Arsenal fans chanted “Old Trafford is falling down” after a 1-0 win yesterday afternoon.
A thunderstorm late in the game saw water cascade down the terraces like a river and a waterfall drench seats as fans took cover. This came after United’s ninth home loss of the season – and many fans saw the leaky roof as symbolic to the deterioration of the club under the Glazer ownership.
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But while many people saw the funny side of the decrepit state of the famous stadium – one roofer warned the club about the dangerous consequences.
Murray Michel, a roofing and technical expert, told Daily Star Sport: “It should be the top priority for the Old Trafford team to ascertain the root of the problem as soon as possible.
(Image: PA)
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“Depending on the issue, there could be very real risks from falling damaged parts and even ice if the colder weather returns. Never mind the weight of that volume of water falling onto unsuspecting spectators.”
Old Trafford has stood proudly for 114 years, but yesterday a thunderstorm led to water pummelling down from one corner of the ground. Clips online also showed flooding near the away dressing room area.
New minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was at the match and he has already spoken of his desire to build a new ‘Wembley of the North’ and to knock down the ‘Theatre of Streams’ altogether.
But he may have to settle with renovating the existing ground, which he has described as “run down and neglected” – and roofing expert Murray, of Clear Amber, explained how costly the leaky roof could be.
He said: “This looks like it could be a failed commercial box gutter. A repair will cost tens of thousands, but a full roof overhaul would quickly turn into a seven-figure project.
“What is really needed is to determine whether it is due to a blocked downpipe system, a failed box gutter connection, or a leaking roofing system. Worst still, it could be due to the gutter or downpipe size not being large enough capacity for the roof when it was designed.”
(Image: PA)
He went on to implore United bosses to invest in the best and most durable materials, like polycarbonate sheets, when designing public projects. “A small leak like this will cost much more in bad PR than the extra investment of choosing a superior sheeting,” he added.
The soggy scenes at Old Trafford at the weekend were nothing new and fans have constantly complained about the state of it under the stewardship of the Glazer family.
(Image: Steve Allen)
United officials and their building partners have held talks with the railway company that operates the rail track behind the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand. The club had said the situation would be addressed in the summer but pictures today showed urgent work was already being done.
Builders were seen abseiling the side of Old Trafford to assess the extent of the damage which has caused havoc for at least five years.
Manchester United have been contacted for a response to this story.
