"So much of what is wrong with Manchester United starts and ends with the Glazer family," he wrote for The Mirror. "Of course, there are people working in executive roles at United who have also failed this iconic football club in recent years because they simply haven’t been up to the job. But is it really any surprise that United are in a state of limbo when the long-term ­direction of the club is so ­uncertain?

"It is nearly 9 months for the reason that Glazers put up a ‘For sale’ signal at Old Trafford. Yet nobody is aware of whether or not they even have any ­intention of cashing in or staying put. A number of weeks in the past, I used to be informed {that a} sale was ­imminent – and completely nothing ­materialised.

"The solely crumb of ­consolation for United supporters is that neither Sheikh Jassim nor Sir Jim Ratcliffe have referred to as the Glazers’ bluff and walked away. So I’m nonetheless hopeful of a deal being struck.”