Outlook: Man United

THERE WAS much dancing in the streets and general celebration when the Government stopped Rupert Murdoch from buying Manchester United. Unfortunately fans may have been cracking open the six packs too soon. Mr Murdoch is declared offside, but that doesn't stop someone else from coming in, and as we report opposite, the City is alive with talk of a mystery suitor shopping around for some key stakes in the company.

Whatever else is said about BSkyB, at least it is a British company. The same is almost certainly not true of any of the likely alternative bidders. Does it matter to have such a national treasure foreign owned? Many football fans might think it does, but there would be little the Government could do to stop bidders simply on the grounds that they weren't British. Whoever the suitor, Manchester United will not remain independent for much longer.