Manchester United Plc’s surprise announcement this week of plans for a new 100,000-seater stadium was the easy bit. Now it needs to find the money.

Manchester United may be experiencing one of the most chastening seasons in its recent history, but the club is planning for a much brighter future.

Manchester United have unveiled plans for a new £2 billion stadium that will be "the Wembley of the North" – and a sign of the club's ambition to be at the pinnacle of the footballing world, despite its current poor form on the pitch.