I saw the Sir Jim Ratcliffe doubts and know how Man United can answer them

Ownership of a football club these days is as much about keeping good public relations as it is, sadly, on improving the infrastructure.

Take Sir Jim Ratcliffe's opening eight months at Manchester United. He has managed to clear out the dead wood in the boardroom and replace them with best in class appointments.

Ineos have taken it upon themselves to spearhead the new stadium regeneration including the wider Old Trafford region. And yet the optics surrounding the club appear to be on a downward spiral.

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This has much to do with the performances on the pitch which Erik ten Hag and his players are needing to take responsibility for. But it is also to do with how Ineos' leadership in this troublesome time on the pitch is being perceived by those on the outside.

In the latest episode of William Hill’s new podcast, Three Up Front, Graeme Souness questioned: "I don’t know what to make of United anymore. We’ve been having the same conversations about them for a decade, but I haven’t seen any improvements, not even under the new ownership.

"I thought they’d be better this season but they haven’t improved at all. And that’s just the playing staff.

"I’m looking at the people higher up and wondering, are they going to turn Man United around? Where’s their football knowledge coming from at the highest level?"

Ratcliffe has ultimately put this scrutiny on himself and the rest of Ineos by allowing the issue surrounding Ten Hag to grow much further than it needed to. Since the summer, it has become clear that the relationship between the manager and the boardroom is fragile at best and non-existent at worst.

The dilly-dallying over a