Ratcliffe’s revamp: Man Utd’s football director out

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Manchester United overhaul has gathered pace with John Murtough, the club’s football director, stepping down from his post and leaving the club.

Ratcliffe’s INEOS group now controls football operations at Old Trafford following their purchase of a 27.7% minority stake from the Glazer family, the club’s majority shareholder, in February.

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Having already made moves to hire Omar Berrada from Manchester City as United’s new CEO, and with negotiations ongoing with Newcastle United and Southampton respectively for Dan Ashworth (sporting director) and Jason Wilcox (technical director), INEOS are attempting to make wholesale changes at the club ahead of next season.

Manager Erik ten Hag’s future is also in doubt — ESPN has reported that United are assessing the qualities of Gareth Southgate, Roberto De Zerbi, Thomas Frank and Gary O’Neil — while INEOS has also hired financial consultants Interpath to oversee a cost-saving exercise at Old Trafford, which already includes the stopping of all corporate credit cards for heads of department.

Murtough, who has previously worked with Everton, Fulham and the Premier League, joined United in 2013 after being hired by then-manager David Moyes to rebuild the club’s football structure behind the scenes.

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He was then promoted to the football director position by former CEO Ed Woodward in 2021, with former United midfielder Darren Fletcher named as technical director at the same time.

Fletcher is expected to remain at United, despite Murtough’s exit and impending appointment of Ashworth and Wilcox, in a role linking the first-team and academy that will be confirmed during the summer.