'If it's broke, fix it' - why Manchester United is the ideal passion project for Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Unionists at the Grangemouth refinery in Scotland used to call Sir Jim Ratcliffe 'Dr No' as he regularly said "no".

Ratcliffe has a yacht, Hampshire II, befitting a James Bond villain. An allay once insisted he simply will not take "no" for an answer.

Before he was recognisable and still the archetypal billionaire 'recluse', Ratcliffe was described as a risk-taker, a deal-doer and very persuasive.

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In a BBC Radio 4 profile that aired more than 10 years ago, a banker who dealt with Ratcliffe said he looks for businesses that are under-loved or under-managed that can double the cash flow in five years. Ring any bells?

Manchester United have such a wide and diverse following which has become particularly tribal amid the prospect of a takeover. There was large support for Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani online, fuelled by the prospect of Qatari riches and some ill-informed former players playing the populist on social media.

At Brighton and West Ham last season, a banner that read 'no to Qatar' was unfurled. It would be too simplistic to separate matchgoers and online followers into the Ratcliffe and Sheikh camps.

Protesters have held aloft a banner that reads 'full sale only' at Old Trafford, construed as support for Sheikh Jassim as he was the only bidder whose offer was for 100% control of the club.

Ratcliffe is anathema to some fans as he is prepared to sit on the same board as the Glazer family and allow them to retain their 69% majority stake. There was a change in temperature over Ratcliffe when he said Joel and Avram Glazer are "the nicest people" last October.

United need investment yet it is not