Man Utd co-owner Ratcliffe pushes to demolish Old Trafford

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe's plans to knock down Old Trafford are gathering steam.

A Regeneration Task Force" is said to have met for the first time, per the Manchester Evening News.

The group includes people from the Manchester area who have an interest in ensuring the area gets more investment.

World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe is chairing the task force, while Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and former United captain Gary Neville are involved.

Lord Coe wrote on social media: "Yesterday, I chaired the first meeting of the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force to kick off a conversation about how development of a world-class football stadium for the north of England can deliver social and economic benefits for the region.

"At the London 2012 Olympics, I saw first-hand how sport can be a powerful driver of urban regeneration and I am excited to be part of this project. This meeting marked the start of a multi-stakeholder process to explore options for the stadium and surrounding area.

"We are at the start of this journey, and it is too soon to know where it will lead. But we will consult closely with fans and local residents along the way, and keep everyone informed of progress."