Ewan MacKenna: Whether David Moyes turns things around or not, Manchester United remain a licence to print money

If you've never come across the story of John Spano, it's worth a quick revisiting. Back in 1996, the Texan businessman briefly acquired the New York Islanders NHL ice hockey team, after a purchase of $165 million was signed off on before the money was paid up, and despite the fact that Spano was really worth just a few hundred thousand.

In one of the most audacious con jobs in sporting history, Spano ...