"That will begin in September and the plan is to have the first ones opening in Thailand and China," he said.

"One of my major plans is to make the Academy - which has done a great job - even stronger. We will begin that process next month. They will not be just based in Asia or the Far East. We intend to have one in the United States too.

"We will appoint a senior executive to look at that area and he will be specifically responsible, but the headquarters of the Academy will remain in Manchester."