Rats are meant to desert a sinking ship, not join it..

SIR JIM HAS WORK CUT OUT TO KEEP HEAD ABOVE WATER

- JEREMY CROSS

SIR JIM Ratcliffe wasted no time in claiming the best seat in the house for his first United Manchester game since making his £1.25billion investment in the club.

Tottenham came to town and Ratcliffe cosied up to Sir Alex Ferguson in the Old Trafford directors' box.

What would Ratcliffe give to have a manager of Fergie's ilk leading this current United side? But for all Ratcliffe's wealth, no amount of money will buy him someone as good and successful as the legendary Scot.

Instead, Ratcliffe has to work with what he's got for the time being, before coming up with a plan that involves the kind of personnel capable of making United a dominant force again.

Because what he's seen so far is clear and unquestionable evidence of a club in decline for over a decade.

Before kick-off, Ratcliffe conducted a meet and greet with the media.

He said little of note, because he's unable to until the Premier League ratify his deal.