Fan group official explains why Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment has 'got to be good' for Manchester United

A board member of a prominent Manchester United fan group explained why he is optimistic about Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s expected 25 per cent investment in the club.

Andy Green of Manchester United Supporters Trust [MUST] says the Failsworth-born businessman’s involvement is “a little crack in the glass.” The INEOS chief is expected to have his minority stake bid ratified in the coming weeks, 11 months after the Glazers launched the takeover process.

Ratcliffe, who turned 71 on Wednesday, is set to take over sporting operations at the club, having done the same as owner of OGC Nice in France and Lausanne in Switzerland. The billionaire has not been the most popular bidder during the process.

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Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani’s 100 per cent debt-free proposal had appeared to attract the most support among fans, but the Qatari withdrew his offer on Saturday after being told his £5billion offer was below what the Glazers were after.

Ratcliffe will, instead, shell out £1.3bn for a quarter of club shares. Green says he is hopeful that the lifelong United supporter will inject some positivity at board level, despite the unpopular Glazers remaining in situ.

“It’s finally a little crack in the glass. You can see some change coming and that’s got to be good for United,” he said, as per The Financial Times.

“INEOS are in it for the glory — they don’t appear to be in it for the financial return. Having somebody in the boardroom who wants the sporting side to be better has got to be a good thing.”

Upon Ratcliffe's previous 69 per cent majority bid back in February, INEOS said: “We are ambitious and