Keith Wyness: Man United in shock off-field talks

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed Man United’s ongoing partnership with Super League rugby is about “politics, visuals and optics”.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed the Grand Final being staged at Old Trafford ties in with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s vision for a “Wembley of the north” being built for United.

Old Trafford will host the Super League Grand Final on 12 October, with the famous stadium first staging the showpiece game in 1998.

According to City AM (4 September), United have opened talks with rugby chiefs about a long-term deal to host the Grand Final.

The Red Devils are pursuing a plan to build a new £2billion, 100,000-seat stadium next to the current Old Trafford site.

Man United will bank small Super League payout after new talks, says Wyness

Wyness claimed the finances involved for United are small, but insisted the partnership with rugby shows Ratcliffe’s vision to turn the new stadium into a “hub in the north”.

He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “This won’t be a Champions League-type bonanza.

“Rugby league is still a relatively poor sport.

“I don’t think there’ll be any big fees coming to United. There’ll be a share of food and beverage sales and a rental fee for the stadium, but it won’t be a big number.

“It’ll more be about being a partner for the community and hosting events which will help the north of England, where rugby league is most dominant.

“I don’t think it’s much more for United than showing it can be a good partner.

“Ratcliffe has got this vision of building a Wembley of the north, which will try to become a hub in the north.

“It’s more about politics, visuals and optics than anything else.”

In other news, update on United deal for Adrien Rabiot after new talks.

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