Blades eye 40,000-seater stadium

The proposals will upgrade the stadium, increasing its capacity and improve opportunities for off-the-pitch revenue.

The Blades aim to offer the type of facilities that could attract World Cup games if England's bid to stage the 2018 tournament is a success.

Proposals centre on increasing the eventual stadium capacity to around 40,000 compared with the current 32,600 and further development of the football, property and leisure business.

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Plans to be discussed with the council and other authorities include an approximate 3,000 seat extension to The Kop, another business centre or new corner stand between the Kop and the South Stand and residential, conference, retail and leisure facilities.

The potential to develop the South Stand is being reviewed as the club continues to play a key role in the regeneration of the Sharrow district including the development of an 158 bedroom four star hotel with Millennium & Copthorne Hotels.

It is thought that on the Kop, United are considering removing the roof and central pillars, installing morel seating at the back of the stand and a new roof.

Longer term plans are understood to recognise the potential for further seating and the development of leisure, conference and office facilities.

"We are determined to keep the momentum of the club going," said United chairman Kevin McCabe.

"The plans for the stadium offer a number of new opportunities for the club as well as providing the city with a stadium development capable of attracting high profile events and international fixtures. We constantly review the long-term development plans for the business and we recognise that a contemporary stadium with associated facilities is key to that future."

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