It’s not quite Bebe levels of money being thrown down the drain, but this is a costly error that Manchester United could certainly have done without.
In the wake of the revelation that the suspicious device which led to the evacuation of Old Trafford on Sunday was nothing more than a prop explosive left behind by a security training exercise, people want answers.
Shareholders want to know how much it has cost the club, fans want to know who is to blame, and everyone wants to know what measures are being taken to ensure something like this never happens again.
We don’t know the answer to that last question just yet, but we’ve certainly got some information about the first two.
In terms of cost, Manchester Evening News have estimated that the whole fiasco – from ticket refunds to the controlled explosion to the potential covering of travel costs – is likely to cost United more than £3 million when everything’s said and done.
And in relation to the blame game, Christopher Reid has taken responsibility for the mistake.
Reid, director of Security Search Management & Solutions Ltd, has claimed that it is his fault that the device was left behind in a stadium bathroom and is expecting to be hung out to dry following a meeting of club executives.
“Ultimately, I am responsible, I went up to Manchester to conduct the training at the club,” Reid told the Daily Telegraph.
“We have a team of five, but this week I went up and did it myself.”
“I feel bad for the fans; for all the disruption caused,” Reid continued. “These things happen, it was human error. But I pride myself on my expertise.
“The Manchester United executives are currently meeting, so I am waiting to hear back from them. I am now really waiting to see how much they’re going to hang me out to dry.
“Until I hear back from them, I can’t really say anything. Which is some time this afternoon apparently…. Lots of people are doing lots of guessing, and I would like to put that straight, once I hear back from Manchester United.”
