REIGN OF ERROR

Sir Jim's meddling has been seriously costly... no way can he take credit for United's upturn

- BY TYRONE MARSHAL

WHEN Sir Jim Ratcliffe sat down with Sky News in Antwerp last week, there was one comment that went on to dominate the headlines.

It's not every day the co-owner of one of the world’s biggest football clubs is told to apologise by the Prime Minister, but Ratcliffe's views on immigration drew condemnation and even prompted a public response from the club he owns.

But as we reflect on the second anniversary of Ineos buying into United - today marks two years since Ratcliffe's £1.25bn investment was confirmed - there was another line in that interview that caught the attention.

Talking about the need for a leader, in this case a Prime Minister, to make difficult and unpopular decisions for the greater good, Ratcliffe drew a comparison with his own situation at United.

"Well, I've been very unpopular at Manchester United because we've made lots of changes," he said. "But for the better, in my view.

"And I think we're beginning to see some evidence in the football club that that's beginning to pay off."

It felt like a stretch.