Business of sport: The Spread

It can’t have been much fun being a Manchester United fan over the 15 months since the retirement of Alex Ferguson. The short-lived tenure of David Moyes last season was characterised by the drift and decline of the previously serial Premier League champions.

And while the appointment over the summer of Dutchman Louis van Gaal, with his formidable track record, has renewed longer-term hope, United find themselves only fifth favourites at 14/1 to ...