Sir Jim Ratcliffe is expected to kick off his Manchester United era with a series of in-depth 'reviews' of the game; research projects Photo: Getty Images/Michael Steele
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's era at Manchester United begins with an in-depth “review exercise” as his Ineos team carefully plots ways to rebuild a crumbling global power.
Petrochemistry. The billionaire ruled out rushed decisions and a lack of direct control over January spending while the Premier League evaluates his deal. Instead, his trusted Ineos lieutenants are tasked with carrying out painstaking analysis of sporting matters, as well as exploring desperately needed improvements at Old Trafford.
On the performance front, Sir David Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc will be at Carrington and Old Trafford next month watching United's football work. Focusing on player selection and scouting is a top priority and a sporting director will eventually be appointed. But in keeping with Ratcliffe and Brailsford's mantra of sharing best practices across industries, each department will be scrutinized: data analytics, nutrition, recovery, injury prevention and psychology.
Blanc, a former PSG and Juventus player, would be a more natural choice than Brailsford to carry out practical duties in the absence of Richard Arnold, recently sacked as chief executive as a figurehead for the weakening old regime. Ratcliffe has had Blanc in mind for United since appointing him to Ineos Sport last December.
The coming weeks, insiders say, will now be a “watch, listen and learn” move, giving Eric ten Hagu has some breathing room to improve his fortunes on the field. The source said: “Until they get into it properly, they won't make any hasty decisions, which was part of the problem [previously].”
But there are also detailed plans beyond the game, with Ratcliffe beginning to spend an extra £237 million on investment at Old Trafford. The expected presence on the board of two other Ineos executives, Andy Rees and Rob Nevin, could provide some oversight of the development plans.
Ineos has taken the view that the fund will only cover “initial costs”. . The “very detailed study” will play an “important role in the long-term decision” on whether to renovate or completely demolish the stadium.
While the contributions of Brailsford, Blanc, Rees and Nevin are significant, Ratcliffe will be very much the real force. Managing United had been his lifelong dream and he received assurances from the Glazers that “you will take over the football side completely.”
“It's a much bigger job”
In practice, the Glazers will still be consulted. during full board budget meetings, but “decisions on all football matters will be made by Jim and his team,” sources confirmed.
There are no plans to rush and make major changes, not least because the review of Premier League directors and owners will take at least another month.
“Because completion will not happen until the end of January In the January transfer window, no one is involved in decision making,” said an insider familiar with Ratcliffe's plan.
“The Ineos team will come and assess what needs to be done, listen and learn about the whole structure. It's not about players coming and going in one month, it's a much bigger job.”
Essentially, this means that the impact of the Ineos era will only come in the summer. United will really start to make its presence felt. United's staff will already know that the manager has time to impress, and the appointment of a sporting director could also be in the offing. After a board meeting was convened on Sunday morning to give the belated go-ahead for the announcement, some of these points were explained by Patrick Stewart, interim chief executive, during a video call with club staff from Old Trafford.
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