Purgatory spiced with speculation, hope blunted by stasis. So it goes for Manchester United supporters, for week after interminable week.
It is nearly seven months since the Glazers put the club up for sale – the “anniversary” is Thursday. Yet the family remains in situ, still inflicting the sort of slow torture that would make Torquemada flinch, still desperate to make every last penny before they depart. If they depart.