Just like Alex Ferguson, the ‘racehorse owner’ who it turned it didn’t actually own any racehorses once the Coolmore mafia called his bluff, Neville the property developer is actually just a a shill and PR frontman for Chinese money, given a tiny stake in exchange for being a frontman and recognisable face to spearhead their investments in Manchester.
I know a couple of people who have been in development meetings he has attended. He swans in like he is the boss, makes staggeringly inept and uninformed demands like wanting a lift shaft moved which would cause an entire skyscraper to collapse, then departs in a laughable performance of mobile phone calls and barked orders because he is ‘so busy’.
Once he has gone, the grown ups and professionals in the room invariably chuckle, ruefully shake their heads and apologise to their visitors before carrying on as if he had never been there.
A legend in his own lunchtime who either doesn't realise everyone in the property industry is laughing behind his back, or doesn’t care because he is still making good money.