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Former Manchester United star Gary Neville has clashed with his old club over plans to build a hotel with a rooftop pitch. The England coach already has planning permission for a 139-bed hotel and supporters' club in the shadow of Old Trafford, but has now submitted amendments which include the 16m by 12m artificial area. Trafford planning committee will meet on Thursday to consider the plans for the rooftop area, which would have a retractable canopy, bar and TVs and raise the height of the 10-storey building 1.9m higher than previous drawings.

Manchester United have already objected to Neville's development, on the grounds that it would obstruct views of their stadium’s east stand. In a report to the council, the club said: 'The tall landmark building would obstruct key views towards the stadium’s east stand. 'The east stand is the principle elevation and forms a highly visible focal point on approach to the stadium and any development proposal that fails to acknowledge the stand’s significance as a consequence of inappropriate scale and massing should not therefore be accepted.'

In May Manchester United lodged a stinging five-page objection letter against the hotel, leisure and retail complex. They claimed the development has insufficient parking and say that even if those issues were resolved, ‘MUFC shall continue to oppose and object to the proposed scheme due to its impact on the Old Trafford landscape, highway safety and the club’s holistic vision for the continuing enhancement of the area surrounding the stadium’.

Manchester United have refused to comment on plans for the artificial pitch. A new planning application has also been submitted for two giant LED advertising screens on the side of the hotel. The Sky Sports pundit and Mail on Sunday columnist is no stranger to planning battles, having recently secured permission for a 'Teletubby' eco-home in rural Lancashire.

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Barack Obama called for unity and set out an optimistic vision of America's future this morning in a rousing acceptance speech after he defeated Mitt Romney to win another four years as President of the United States. He promised 'the best is yet to come' and said the fierce battle with Romney had made him a better president, vowing: 'I will return to the White House more determined and inspired than ever’. In a speech that saw a return to the soaring rhetoric he has become known for since his election in 2008, Obama said he had ‘listened and learned’ from the American people during his campaign.

With his voice going hoarse at times, he said: 'Progress comes in fits and starts’ and the road is littered with ‘difficult compromises.' But he said he enters the next four years with an 'economy recovering, a decade of war ending and a long campaign is over.' He paid tribute to his opponent and hopes they can 'work together in the coming weeks'. This bipartisanship had been echoed by Romney moments earlier during his concession speech. Romney called for America to 'put the people before politics' and warned, 'At a time like this we can't risk partisan bickering and political posturing.' He added, 'I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes to lead this country in a different direction. But the nation chose another leader.'

Broadcast networks called the 2012 election for Obama at 11.15pm as he swept the map with wins in the swing states of Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Virginia. Florida still hung in the balance this morning, though the president had a very narrow lead there, as well. The 100 percent of precincts reporting, Obama had an advantage of 46,000 votes -- though news outlets were hesitant to declare him the winner in the Sunshine State, which has a notoriously close election history. Obama scored a resounding electoral college win - despite predictions of one of the tightest finishes in history and the dogged insistence of Romney advisers that they were making gains all over the political battlefield.He looked set to win either 332 or 303 electoral college votes, depending on the outcome in Florida, with Romney far behind with 206 or 235. There are 538 electoral college votes in total, meaning that a candidate must win 270 to make it to the White House.

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