It could be a while before Sir Jim Ratcliffe is pulling the strings at Manchester United.
Even when the Ineos owner’s £1.25billion investment is confirmed, it may be a further two months before Ratcliffe passes the Premier League’s fit and proper persons test, and the process of acquiring A-shares in United on the New York Stock Exchange is complete.
Once the British billionaire’s investment is given the green light, however, he will have more power at United than could be expected of a 25 per cent shareholder after agreeing with the Glazer family to take charge of football operations at United.