Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already told Manchester United's fans what they want to hear

Confirmation of Greater Manchester-born Sir Jim Ratcliffe's interest in buying Manchester United from the Glazer family has meant that some of the dark clouds circling above Old Trafford have started to disperse, even if very slowly.

Although Ratcliffe's interest is nothing more than that for now, with nothing yet in the pipeline to suggest that the Glazers are ready to cut ties with United completely, it is news that has, unsurprisingly, gauged an excited reaction. United's supporters are desperate to see the back of the Glazers, who purchased the club in 2005, and are planning to hold another protest against them ahead of Monday evening's clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Discontent towards the American-based ownership has reached an all-time high over the last few weeks, with supporters understandably furious with the transfer business United have conducted so far this summer - or lack of. A tally of just three new signings, one of which was a free addition, was not the idea of a reset that the fans had in mind.

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The club is in desperate need of new ownership and has been for several years. Although you can easily point the blame at United's players, who continue to let the fans down, as proven at Brentford last weekend, a fish rots from the head. The Glazers are continuing to oversee a period of misery and unacceptable standards. They also felt brave enough to enter the farce that was the European Super League in April last year.

For many United fans that was the final straw. Joel Glazer, following that debacle, emerged from the shadows and penned an open letter to the supporters, apologising for the decision to join the breakaway league,