HITC understands Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants Dan Ashworth to start work in June to facilitate the club’s major moves this summer, which could yet mean a new head coach being installed.
INEOS’ initial review of the club and its football process has been completed by Sir Dave Brailsford – who is continuing to look at the inner-workings at Old Trafford and beyond.
Putting together the hierarchy within the footballing department has been key to how United have progressed since INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe secured their minority slice of the club earlier this year.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS working hard on footballing staff
Ratcliffe has put in place his team at INEOS to oversee United’s football operation from board level with their director of sport Brailsford and their sporting CEO Jean-Claude Blanc taking their place on the club’s board.
From that Brailsford and Blanc have put together the team who will be running the club on a day-to-day basis.
Omar Berrada is coming in from Manchester City as CEO, but the biggest role on the sporting side is arguably that of sporting director and the man they want is Ashworth.
Talks have been ongoing since Ashworth was placed on gardening leave by Newcastle United after he confirmed his desire to make the move to Old Trafford.
HITC can confirm that Ratcliffe has taken things further in recent weeks by holding talks with Newcastle director Amanda Staveley, as the club clubs try and thrash out terms. The North East club have been demanding £20million to release Ashworth from his contract.
Ratcliffe is pushing for Ashworth to be in charge ahead of the summer business, as HITC understands that he could be tasked with finding a new head coach. The club also hope to have Southampton’s Jason Wilcox, who will work under Ashworth, in place as technical director.
HITC can confirm that Ractliffe is a big fan of many aspects of the work done by current first-team boss Erik Ten Hag – particularly with the bringing through young talent.
However, sources have always insisted to HITC that the decisive factor would be the form of the team and despite reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, United’s league form in recent weeks has been worrying to many at the club. They have won just one Premier League game in their last seven matches – form which has seen them drop to seventh.
HITC understands that United have been doing their due diligence on potential new bosses, in case their was the need to replace Ten Hag – but Ratcliffe is eager to have Ashworth overseeing the process.
Ratcliffe wants to cut out leaks and indiscipline amongst players
HITC has been told that one aspect at the club that Ratcliffe is ‘angry’ about is the constant leaks emerging from the club, and also the use of social media to criticise the club.
The club saw Jadon Sancho moved on after he took to social media to vent at Ten Hag, whilst only this weekend Argentine starlet Alejandro Garnacho liked tweets criticising the Dutchman – after he was substituted during the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth.
Ten Hag has already spoken with Garnacho about his use of social media, as United insists the situation is resolved – but the club’s hierarchy, including Ratcliffe is not amused.
Ratcliffe will not get personally involved in club discipline, but he has already made it known that he backed Ten Hag over the Sancho situation and going forward he will not put up with further indiscipline at any level of the club with particular focus on the players.