Premier League

TONY BLAIR wanted to move a Premier League team from London to Belfast, government papers reveal.The former Prime Minister labelled the idea to relocate Wimbledon to Northern Ireland as “excellent”.
Tony Blair wanted to move Wimbledon from London to Belfast in the late 1990sCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The Dons won the 1988 FA Cup but were struggling financially within the next decadeCredit: Getty
Previously classified notes from 1997 – the year Blair moved into 10 Downing Street as he started his ten-year stay – highlighted the ex-Labour leader “following up earlier informal discussions about the possibility of an English Premier League football club relocating to Belfast”.
Amid continued trouble in the Northern Irish capital, some thought having a football team playing in the Premier League would be a “significant breakthrough”.
The document said: “[It] should be able to build up strong cross-community support and provide a positive unifying force in a divided city.”
It also named struggling Wimbledon as the club that would switch cities – with the team being called Belfast United.
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Blair was in full agreement and responded: “It would be excellent if Wimbledon were to move to Belfast and we should encourage this as much as possible.”
Plans were even drawn up for a new privately-funded 40,000-seater stadium either on Queen’s Island or in North Foreshore.
The Belfast Telegraph reported Secretary of State Mo Mowlam also threw her support behind the notion which would increase investment into the country.
However, the suggestion was not universally popular amid fears it could “kill off the game in Northern Ireland”.
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There were further suggestions that Wimbledon owner Sam Hammam “explored the possibility of moving Wimbledon to Dublin”.
Further updates in July and August 1998 – soon after the Good Friday Agreement – demonstrated Blair’s willingness for the relocation to go through but it remained “delicate” in the face of strong opposition.
However, despite a Bring Premier League Soccer To Northern Ireland campaign and plenty of negotiations, eventually the proposal was scrapped.
Hammam looked into options which would have seen Wimbledon move to Basingstoke, Cardiff, Manchester, Wigan, Bristol, Scotland or near Gatwick Airport.
The Dons were relegated from the top flight in 2000 and two years later, a deal was struck to move the 1988 FA Cup winners from Plough Lane to Milton Keynes.
They first played at their new home in September 2003 and at the end of the season changed their name to MK Dons while furious fans continued to build up a new team, AFC Wimbledon, from scratch.
The Wombles returned to their old home in 2020 and now play their football in League Two.
Another government idea – made public by the declassified documents – saw chief press secretary Alistair Campbell put forward arranging an Old Firm derby between Rangers and Celtic in Belfast.
Campbell suggested the two teams swap into their rivals’ kits and was willing to use Sir Alex Ferguson to speak to contacts at Ibrox but the match did not take place.
An Old Firm clash in Northern Ireland wearing each others’ kits was put forward as another ideaCredit: Kenny Ramsay More

ROBIN VAN PERSIE has revealed why he was at Old Trafford just days after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s takeover was confirmed.The Manchester United legend watched his former club from the stands as they secured a 3-2 comeback win over Aston Villa.
Robin van Persie and Edwin van der Sar both cheered on United as they beat Aston Villa 3-2Credit: Twitter @ManUtd
It was the first game since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment was confirmedCredit: PA
Van Persie was spotted in the stadium sitting alongside former Red Devils goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
Fans believed the timing of the duo’s return perhaps hinted at Ratcliffe giving them a role at the club.
Van der Sar previously worked as CEO at Ajax and Van Persie is currently a youth-team coach at Feyenoord.
But the retired striker shut down any chances of returning to Man Utd.
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He told MUTV: “Obviously, it was a bit of a coincidence that I’m here now with my wife and friends.
“When I looked at the schedule I was like if I can pick that game, I will pick that game because of course our sort of shared memories we have against Villa.”
Van Persie famously scored a hat-trick against the Midlands club in 2013 to seal United the Premier League title.
He continued: “It was one of the most special nights personally as a Manchester United player.
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“Villa are doing well this year so it’s a nice game to watch.
“It’s always nice to be back. I feel that not only in the stadium but I feel it in the streets. 
“This afternoon I was walking in Deansgate and the love the fans still give me is incredible.”
Van Persie reportedly rejected an offer to work on Erik ten Hag’s coaching team last year because he wanted to stay in Holland. More

SIR JIM RATCLIFFE cannot publicly criticise Manchester United’s owners, the Glazer family, following his 25 per cent takeover of the club.It was confirmed on Christmas Eve that the British billionaire’s minority takeover of the club had been agreed and is in the process of being signed.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is not allowed to criticise the Glazer familyCredit: Getty
The Glazers are hated among Manchester United supportersCredit: Getty
The deal ensures the Glazers – unpopular with the Red Devils’ fanbase – remain in control, but they have passed the football operations over to Ratcliffe.
And among the details of the 241-page document is a paragraph outlining that both Ratcliffe and the Glazers cannot publicly criticise one another.
According to The Times, the agreement contains a section which says Ratcliffe’s company Trawlers Limited will not make public statements that “constitute an ad hominem attack on, criticise, or otherwise disparage, the sellers [The Glazers], the company [United] or their respective affiliates”.
The same conditions also apply to the Glazers, with the document submitted to the New York Stock Exchange stating they must “refrain from any public criticism of their new investor”.
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Ratcliffe’s 25 per cent acquisition came at a price of £1.3billion.
It has also been reported his final share of the club will grow to 29 per cent “if the completion process goes to plan”.

Ratcliffe is set to invest £237million into the club and will have two of his most trusted lieutenants keeping a close eye on the club from January.
Former British Cycling and Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford, who headed up Ratcliffe’s takeover of Nice, will join the board.
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Man Utd fans have held numerous protests calling for the Glazers to sell the clubCredit: PA
The Glazers have been in charge at Old Trafford since 2005Credit: The Mega Agency
He will be joined by Jean-Claude Blanc – Ratcliffe’s CEO at Ineos Sport.
Brailsford was in the directors’ box for Man Utd’s thrilling 3-2 win over Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
It is understood the ratification process of Ratcliffe’s takeover could take up to two months.
During this period, Ineos must be alerted to any sporting decisions made by the Glazers.
This includes transfers such as the potential departure of Jadon Sancho.
The investment vehicle used by Ratcliffe to complete the deal – Trawlers Limited – is named after an iconic speech made by Man Utd legend Eric Cantona following his infamous kung-fu kick back in 1995.
After the announcement, boyhood Man Utd fan Ratcliffe said: “As a local boy and a lifelong supporter of the club, I am very pleased that we have been able to agree a deal with the Manchester United board that delegates us management responsibility of the football operations of the club.
“Whilst the commercial success of the club has ensured there have always been available funds to win trophies at the highest level, this potential has not been fully unlocked in recent times.
“We will bring the global knowledge, expertise and talent from the wider Ineos Sport group to help drive further improvement at the club, while also providing funds intended to enable future investment into Old Trafford.
“We are here for the long term and recognise that a lot of challenges and hard work lie ahead, which we will approach with rigour, professionalism and passion.
“We are committed to working with everyone at the club – the board, staff, players and fans – to help drive the club forward.
“Our shared ambition is clear: we all want to see Manchester United back where we belong, at the very top of English, European and world football.”
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Despite Tuesday’s comeback win over Villa, Man Utd remain six points adrift of the Premier League’s top four.
Erik ten Hag’s men were also eliminated in the group stage of the Champions League after just one win from six games.
Ratcliffe’s minority takeover leaves the Glazers firmly at the helmCredit: Getty More

MANCHESTER UNITED fans are excited as Mason Mount has returned to training after being out for nearly two months.The £60million midfielder was spotted back at Carrington on Wednesday after he picked up a calf injury in November.
Mason Mount has been spotted back at training after nearly two months out injuredCredit: Getty
Mount moved to Man Utd in the summer for £60millionCredit: Getty
The midfielder has been out since United’s victory against LutonCredit: Alamy
Since the Red Devils’ 1-0 win over Luton on November 11 Mount has been unavailable to start for Erik ten Hag’s side.
The 24-year-old only arrived at Old Trafford in the summer from Chelsea but has been limited to just four league starts this term.
But fans are over the moon to see the England international back on the training pitch after United’s 3-2 victory against Aston Villa on Tuesday night.
As one supporter said: “WE’RE SO BACK.”
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While another put: “Money Maseeeee 😍💪.”
And a third fan added: “Very happy to see him back.”
Ten Hag’s team have struggled for consistency this season and crashed out of the Champions League after a miserable performance in the group stage.
However, some fans are not convinced Mount’s injury boost will be the key to solve United’s problems.
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“Back with his Mid performance”, a not-so-happy supporter said.
While another asked, “Who?” suggesting Mount has not made an impact since his big-money move in the summer.
An injury forced him out of six matches between August and September, stalling Mount’s start to life at United.
Since his debut against Wolves at the beginning of term, the former Chelsea boy has not scored a single goal.
He has created just one assist in the EFL Cup against Crystal Palace in September.
With midfielders Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez sidelined, Ten Hag will be desperate for Mount to hit the ground running on his return. More