HITC understands that new Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is backing manager Erik Ten Hag and has no plans to replace the Dutchman this summer.
Ten Hag has endured some troubling times since arriving at Old Trafford in the summer of 2022, but HITC has been told that Ratcliffe has been impressed by the former Ajax man and is encouraged by recent performances as he feels the squad have reacted well to him.
HITC has been informed by sources with knowledge of the situation that Ratcliffe has assured Ten Hag of his plans to keep him, as his near 28% purchase of the club was confirmed upon receipt of the final approval from the Football Association.
Ratcliffe delight
Speaking to Man United’s website after becoming a co-owner, Ratcliffe said: “To become co-owner of Manchester United is a great honour and comes with great responsibility.
“This marks the completion of the transaction, but just the beginning of our journey to take Manchester United back to the top of English, European and world football, with world-class facilities for our fans. Work to achieve those objectives will accelerate from today.”
INEOS’ director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford has been overseeing a ‘strategic review’ of United as they take control of the footballing department that will report into Ratcliffe. Brailsford and INEOS sport CEO Jean-Claude Blanc will oversee the footballing department as board members – but they are putting a team together, which they hope will provide Ten Hag with everything he needs to turn them into title contenders.
As part of Brailsford’s review, HITC is told that the first part has been to look at Ten Hag and his coaching team and we are told that they INEOS were sufficiently impressed. Ratcliffe, whilst having overall control, wants to make sure the whole footballing department works together, and he was happy his initial feelings were backed up by his team.
Ten Hag assured
INEOS want Ten Hag to attack the summer period without the worry of his own position and they feel this is important.
Ten Haag will also have a new sporting director to work with, and INEOS have already decided that Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth is the man they want to come in. He has been placed on gardening leave and now INEOS, lead by Blanc, are in talks to finalise a package with Newcastle that will allow Ashworth to start work at Old Trafford this summer.
The club have already finalised a deal to bring in Omar Berrada from Manchester City as chief executive this summer. They are also planning on bringing in a senior figure to work on recruitment with Ashworth and Southampton’s Jason Wilcox is the man they have targeted for that role. They did have an interest in Brighton’s Sam Jewell, but he has opted to join Chelsea.
There will also be further changes at the club including some further high profile departures following on from the likes of former chief executive Richard Arnold who departed late last year. HITC understands that current director of football John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher have not received any assurances about whether they have any future at the club.
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