New owners must back ETH's vision

TWO bidders look set to battle it out for the ownership of United.

- GEORGE SMITH

Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Raine Group both confirmed their interest in buying the Reds from the Glazers on Friday evening.

Though some United supporters are only interested in seeing the Glazer family relinquish control of the club, plenty of others have reservations about the idea of the club being owned by a member of the Qatari royal family. Human rights issues in Qatar have been well-documented as a concern for many.

But with more and more investors from Gulf states laying their hands on some of Europe's biggest clubs, it's certainly not out of the question that Al Thani could win the battle.

You cannot deny that he has not hit the right notes in his statement confirming his bid, vowing to invest in the club's infrastructure and that his offer is debt free, but any prospective owner at any club in the world, however big or small, can always produce an opening statement with words that supporters want to hear.