Manchester United news: New Sir Matt Busby plaque to be installed in Old Trafford director's box

The club insisted it the decision was made last week and not because of fan outrage

A new plaque bearing Sir Matt Busby's name will replace the old one on his Old Trafford seat (Getty Images)

Manchester United have commissioned a new plaque for Sir Matt Busby’s old seat at Old Trafford only hours after the club came under fire for removing ‘The Busby Family’ plaques from the directors’ box and relocating their season tickets.

The former Red Devils boss is considered one of the most influential figures in the club’s history having won the club’s first European Cup in 1968, only ten years after the tragic Munich air disaster that killed 23 people – including eight of his famous ‘Busby Babes’.

Upon his death in 1994, Sir Matt was honoured with a plaque attached to his seat at the stadium alongside three more seats reserved for his family members.

Fans were outraged by the move and the decision to relocate his family from their current seats in the directors’ box and a petition was set up, garnering more the 1,500 signatures, to reverse the decision.

However, in a move the club say was made a week ago, and not connected with the fan’s fury around the removal of the original plaque, Sir Matt’s old seat will now have a new plate and will bear the words ‘Sir Matt Busby’.

Sir Matt’s son, Sandy, passed away in 2014 before his daughter Sheena died in 2015, but their families have also been given three new seats each that will now be located in the Warwick Suite, away from the directors’ box.

A banner paying tribute to the 'Busby Babes' is displayed in the Stretford End at Old Trafford (Getty)

In a statement Manchester United said: “The club continues to provide tickets and hospitality for the descendants of Sir Matt but with the passing of his children that hospitality will continue in the Warwick Suite.”

Amanda Eustace, one of Sir Matt’s granddaughters, told the Manchester Evening News: “My dad always said it was a privilege to have those box tickets.

“We have been extremely grateful to United for what they have given us over the past years. We still do have season tickets, which is absolutely fantastic.”

A bronze statue of Sir Matt was erected outside Old Trafford in 1996 and one of the roads outside the stadium, formally known as Warwick Road, is named Sir Matt Busby Way.