New regime make intentions clear

New Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos head of sport Sir Dave Brailsford have told staff of their intention to drive the club back to the top of the English game.

Ratcliffe, Brailsford and Jean Claude-Blanc have been spending time at Old Trafford and the Carrington training complex this week ahead of their proposed 25% purchase of the club being ratified by the Premier League.

United boss Erik ten Hag said on Thursday he spent "hours" with the Ineos delegation, discussing future plans.

BBC Sport also understands Brailsford led a number of group chats in which he referred to United’s "performance challenge", which was his way of highlighting the chronic underperformance in recent years.

It is thought likely Brailsford will bring in a new technical director once he is legally allowed to make changes.

That will put a question mark over the future of current football director John Murtough.

Brailsford told staff Ineos will take over United’s football operations. This will include determining the future of Ten Hag, who is under pressure after a dismal first half of the campaign during which his side have suffered 14 defeats and been eliminated from both the Champions League and EFL Cup. They are eighth in the Premier League, nine points off a top-four spot and go to League One Wigan in the FA Cup on Monday.

It is understood the hands-on approach of Ratcliffe and Brailsford has been welcomed given it differs sharply from the Glazer ownership, who were content to remain largely in the United States and leave the day-to-day running of the club to the chief executive, initially David Gill, then Ed Woodward and finally Richard Arnold, who left the club at the end of last year. Until the takeover is ratified, likely to be in February, Patrick Stewart will continue in the role of interim chief executive.