Irish duo a healthy influence

It is plainly nonsense to suggest that J P McManus and John Magnier, those Irish stars of the turf, have invested in Manchester United simply to watch over the back of their racing pal Sir Alex Ferguson. They may enjoy the sporting life, and the company of Ferguson, but they are not where they are in business because of a weakness for sentimental trifles.

Whether their long-term plan is to form alliances which would eventually lead to their control of United may be a different matter, but of one thing we can be sure. Apart from being highly successful businessmen, they have a shrewd instinct for what it takes to win in sport.

This surely makes them a welcome source of influence for the fans of United. The club lost much ground on the European front because of the board's poor understanding of what is necessary, in terms of investment, to stay at the forefront of any game.

Real Madrid's "impossible" signings of first Luis Figo, then Zinedine Zidane have surely provided a healthy jolt to the cautious suits of Old Trafford.

The arrival of J P and Magnier in the parish will surely have a similar effect.