The success of the mancs during red-nose’s years has boosted the manc brand by multiples. The kids have all grown up over the last 20 years or so all becoming manc ‘fans’, following that success. This is country-wide. In the old days at Chelsea, after the war, there were 70k and 80k fans in the Bridge regularly. That slowed down when we became shit, and thinking not-so-far back to ’83-4 era we were on a low, I’d say! This is in contrast to the mancs at the time, of course, who were now starting their upwards roll. This has affected that generation of kids, plus the ones 10 years behind them. Red-nose has helped the manc brand far more than people realise. Had he been sacked prior to that FA cup win the mancs been could have become that club who were relegated not that long ago – and things could’ve been far, far different. Really, they could. Would generations have been all rushing to buy manc shirts and ‘support’ the club had they been performing in the lower league positions, year-in, year-out? No, they wouldn’t. The manc brand is massive. The tv rights would be worth far more than they get from sky if they could go it alone. Despite red-nose falling out with the Irish and partly causing the glazer situation, the mancs will come thru’ it all as someone else will come in with that £1 – £1.5bln that’s needed. Probably a shanghai-based chink who needs to spend some of his cash.