Manchester City plan for bigger stadium

The club has conducted feasibility studies on various ways of expanding the ground, with the most ambitious plan to lift off the roof and add a whole new tier. That would give the Etihad stadium a capacity in excess of 70,000 and hugely increase the potential match-day income.

The club are trying to compete with their neighbours on every level. The first priority has been to build a team capable of matching them on the pitch but the club are also trying to drive their commercial and match-day revenues.

The Etihad Stadium’s capacity is currently 47,805 and with Old Trafford holding 76,000, the Emirates 60,000 and Liverpool and Tottenham looking for new stadiums, City do not want to be left behind. United themselves have discussed an expansion which could take them to 95,000 seats.

The first priority for City is the completion of the academy project next to the stadium. They have a planning permission hearing at the end of December and, subject to that being granted, they will begin work on the wide-ranging campus, which is expected to take three years to build.

In the meantime City will be looking at how they can develop the stadium. The club hierarchy want to ensure that any expansion fits with demands for seats. The average attendance of 45,949 last season was nearly 2,000 under capacity but City are hoping that consistent success will lead to an upsurge in demand. They also want to make sure they have the corporate facilities which are such a money-spinner for Arsenal and United, especially in Champions League fixtures.

The results of the feasibility studies have shown that they could easily install a further 2,000 seats without too much difficulty or, if they did not feel they could justify a new tier, lift one of the ends to add 8,000 more seats.

City’s plans to expand are another reminder of their current financial clout, but United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists he is not envious. “We have a good training ground, we have a good youth set up, we don’t need to touch that. We do well in terms of scouting. There’s not really a lot we can do with money.” Ahead of a Manchester derby which is likely to be as keenly contested as any in recent years, Ferguson also claimed that he had “never sought confrontation”. The Scot is famous for his fierce temper, but insisted: “I have never in my life ever sought confrontation with anyone, ever. In this game, you can bet your life it will come your way so you don’t need to look for it. You deal with it then but that’s not confronting anyone.”

Balotelli escapes fireworks blaze

Mario Balotelli could start Sunday afternoon’s Manchester derby despite a firework causing a fire in his house on Friday night.

The blaze was apparently caused by the Italian and his friends letting off fireworks out of the bathroom window.

Balotelli trained yesterday and was due to spend last night at City’s team hotel. Manager Roberto Mancini is unlikely to have been amused by his striker’s latest escapade but is still thought to be considering starting the 21 year-old.