Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly set to entrust three directors to make a decision on whether Manchester United will part ways with under-fire manager Erik ten Hag this summer.
Mail Sport revealed exclusively this week that the INEOS CEO and his leadership group at Old Trafford will not sack the Dutchman before their FA Cup final showdown against Manchester City on May 25.
Yet, big concerns are mounting over the 54-year-old’s future at the Red Devils following this season’s failings.
A 4-0 drubbing by Crystal Palace on Monday night heightened concerns over his future, with critics raising questions over his coaching style and his ability to motivate his players. United have won only once in their last seven Premier League matches, slipping to eighth in the table.
Several big names from within the world of football have been linked to succeed him as the Red Devils’ manager, including Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel, but that is only if Ratcliffe and his leadership group decide to part ways with him.
Amid a total overhaul of their management structure, United look set to bring in several new executives to help galvanise the team back to its previous success.
According to The Telegraph, the decision over Ratcliffe’s future is ‘firmly decisions for the experts he is entrusting to rebuild United’.
The outlet claims interim chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc, who took over from Richard Arnold, will play a big role in providing incoming CEO Omar Berrada with ‘more eyes and ears on the ground’ and is also a ‘trusted voice who can offer expert insight,’ says The Telegraph.
Newly appointed technical director, Jason Wilcox, will join the pair as part of that advisory group and the outlet claims he will also be a ‘key’ figure in deciding Ten Hag’s suitability for the position.
Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth is yet to arrive, but appears to be growing closer to a move to Old Trafford and is likely to also be included in the discussions.
The trio will collect information on the Dutch football manager and will, per The Telegraph judge him on ‘his overall approach, relationship with the dressing room and the credentials and availability for potential replacements.’
Ten Hag revealed in April, following Wilcox’s arrival that the pair had been in ‘intense’ dialogue, getting up to speed after the former Southampton director arrived at United last month.
Wilcox, meanwhile, has been conducting an ‘audit’ into the Man United manager’s tactics and coaching ethos, per The Telegraph.
Change seems to be in the air at Man United following Ratcliffe’s £1.3billion investment in the football club, and while INEOS did not complete a full takeover they are certainly implementing some huge reforms.
On Monday, Ratcliffe sent around a company-wide email, per The Guardian, telling them he was scrapping the club’s current hybrid working policies amid concerns over the productivity of staff working from home.
