Ineos are busy preparing for the summer and more changes are taking place behind the scenes at Manchester United.
Manchester United have announced more changes to the backroom team at Old Trafford.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently expressed frustration at having to wait for his planned Manchester United hires to come off ‘gardening leave’.
Incoming chief executiveOmar Berrada cannot start until July. Patrick Stewart had been filling the void since replacing Richard Arnold at the end of last year.
Now, he’s out, with Manchester United announcing his departure, as one of two exits.
Jean-Claude Blanc steps up
Manchester United have announced that interim chief executive Patrick Stewart has departed his role.
He was appointed as an emergency stand-in after Arnold left, prior to Ineos‘ investment being approved at the end of December.
Long-serving chief financial officer Cliff Baty has also left his role, United confirmed.
Ineos chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc will step up as Stewart’s replacement on an interim basis until Omar Berrada can start.
On the face of it, it’s unusual, United replacing one interim with another.
However, Blanc is ready to be more hands-on as Ineos get their feet under the table, and set the scene for Berrada when he starts.
Blanc has a wealth of experience working at Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, and many had expected him to be United’s CEO.
However, he will be staying in a more top-down role, overseeing the group’s sporting investments at United, Nice, and Lausanne, with extra focus on the Red Devils over the next couple of months.
Blanc has been seen at United games this season along with Ratcliffe, and advisorSir Dave Brailsford.
Roger Bell is stepping up as chief financial officer. He has fulfilled a similar role for Ineos.
Both changes take effect at the end of the season, rather than immediately. The season finishes at the end of May.
At that point, United will switch to immediately focus on planning for next season. With Baty and Stewart not part of Ineos’ plans for next season, it makes sense to move them on, and operate with staff who will be part of the project, to get a head start.
Omar Berrada can only begin work at Manchester United on July 13.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe suggested in a statement that Stewart and Baty made the decision to leave, although to us, it simply looks like they ran out of road.
He commented: “I would like to personally thank both Patrick and Cliff for their support in helping us get to know the club and making us feel welcome and I respect their decisions to now move on as we establish a new management team for the club.”
Their exits demonstrate the growing sway Ineos have a the club. Jason Wilcox has been hired as technical director, and Dan Ashworth will eventually follow.
The club is gearing up for a crucial summer transfer window, re-organising the playing staff, and making a decision, one way or another, over manager Erik ten Hag.
Manchester United fans verdict
Manchester United fans are used to Ineos making changes by now, and it is good to see them taking a proactive approach behind the scenes.
Supporters had plenty to say about the changes, reacting on X to the late night announcement.
One wrote: “My goodness, how right was Ralf Rangnick? Surgery well under way.”
Another added: “The way we’ve cleared out the executives is the same way we should clear out the squad.”
A third comment read: “Better to uproot the roots than keep the branches. Manchester United fans are tired of changing coaches everytime.”
Another fan wrote: “Good to see Ineos getting their people to have more control.”
“Ineos are really shaking things up ahead of the New season… I love it,” posted another.
One fan interestingly noted: “Sir Jim moving his head of finance from Ineos over to United tells me that the Glazers have completely given up and are just letting him run the whole show completely.. wouldn’t surprise me if this time next year he is actually majority owner.”
We can only hope this is the case. The Glazers appear to be handing huge sway over to Ineos already, who are only just getting started.
