Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has been doing the rounds and promising fans a proper conversation once the club's long-running case over alleged financial fair play breaches is finally done and dusted. He called it a 'wonderful sit-down', which is a very polished way of saying they'll explain everything once the dust settles. Whether it ends up being wonderful or deeply awkward probably depends entirely on what the verdict actually is.
Now, as a Manchester United fan, it would be very easy to sit here and enjoy every uncomfortable moment of this saga. And honestly, there have been moments. But fair is fair — this case has dragged on for what feels like forever, and City have consistently maintained their innocence throughout. The charges are serious, covering over a hundred alleged breaches across more than a decade, and the independent commission hearing the case has been grinding through the evidence at a pace that makes a wet Tuesday at Stoke look thrilling by comparison.
Khaldoon also confirmed that owner Sheikh Mansour has absolutely no interest in selling the club, which probably comes as little surprise to anyone. City have been transformed into one of the most successful clubs in the world under his ownership, winning title after title and landing the Champions League. You don't walk away from that kind of project, whatever noise is happening around it.
The tricky bit for City fans is that the uncertainty has been hanging over the club for years now, and no amount of league titles completely shifts the cloud. Even the most loyal supporter must occasionally wonder what the outcome will mean for their recent history if things go badly wrong.
What the 'wonderful sit-down' actually produces will tell everyone a great deal about how City see their own story. If the verdict goes their way, it'll be triumphant. If it doesn't, it'll be the most awkward cup of tea in football history.
Let me know your thoughts.