Manchester United fans can expect some significant changes at the club with the Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos revolution about to really start.
It took a while – probably longer than many expected – but Ratcliffe and Ineos secured their investment into United back in December.
The deal was ratified in February and Ineos can now get down to work and start planning major changes.
A deal has already been teed up to make Manchester City’s Omar Berrada United’s new CEO.
Ineos would no doubt love to have Newcastle United’s Dan Ashworth but talks over that deal have been particularly tricky.
The entire structure of the club’s football operations is about to change and one departure is now set to be confirmed.
Key Manchester United man steps down
Reports just a few days ago suggested that football director John Murtough would be leaving the club eventually.
The Athletic now state that Murtough has in fact stepped down and his United exit will be confirmed imminently.
It’s stated that Murtough has decided to stand aside despite some suggestions of him taking on a different role at United.
Murtough has a long history in the game, working at Everton, Fulham and Coventry City before joining United in 2013.
Murtough focused on the academy and development scene before stepping up to football director in 2021.
Reports suggest that Ineos have had ‘sympathy’ for Murtough as he ended up taking on a much bigger role than first expected.
ESPN’s Mark Ogden reports that Ineos did actually want Murtough to at least stay until the summer, but he has decided to go now.
This has been a long association with United for Murtough but his departure signals the Ineos revolution.
Jason Wilcox latest as John Murtough departs
Murtough’s exit is another change to the football structure at United.
The Athletic’s report highlights that Murtough’s duties will largely be taken over by Ashworth and, hopefully, Jason Wilcox.
The Southampton director of football is expected to become United’s technical director in the near future.
It’s stated that ‘United hope Wilcox will start in the coming weeks’ but that a deal hinges on agreeing compensation with Southampton.
The deal should get done amid claims Wilcox has already agreed terms with United and Murtough’s exit just pushes us one step closer to Wilcox arriving.