Dan Ashworth appointed, John Murtough decision - the brutal steps Manchester United must take
Sir Jim Ratcliffe will have a number of items in his in-tray at Old Trafford but it seems clear what decision he must make first at Man United.
Steven is a senior writer and covers Manchester United for the Manchester Evening News. You can follow Steven on Twitter at @StevenRailston.
Manchester United supporters have already shared their appreciation of Sir Jim Ratcliffe after the new club co-owner held talks with them on Monday.
This comes after the 71-year-old met with journalists ahead of the 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Sunday in what was his first time watching a game at Old Trafford since his £1.3billion minority stake investment. He will have a lot to tick off once his arrival is ratified by the Premier League.
INEOS has pledged to invest $300million in infrastructure in 2024, with most of this due to be directed into the stadium. However, appointing board members, overseeing transfers and even assessing the future of the manager will all be on the agenda and Ratcliffe may have to make some cut-throat decisions.
READ MORE: Exclusive: Brailsford meeting former United staff as 'brutal' changes planned
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Right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford has already spoken to several former employees at the club and is expected to suggest some ‘brutal’ changes in his audit verdict. MEN Sport’s United writers have outlined what move Ratcliffe must make at United first.
Samuel Luckhurst
The structure. That has to come before the manager and the squad. United need a sporting director with an enviable track record in recruitment after squandering billions on dross over the last 15 years.
John Murtough has merit in a more administrative role and is a popular figure at the club, while he has also told confidants he never envisaged his role revolving around recruitment. Some continuity is needed around Carrington.
Ineos are already communicating; with journalists and supporters. Improvement is also required in comms at United. Also, a minor point: why has the former club secretary of a meagre seven years, John Alexander, still got a seat reserved for him in the directors' box? He vacated the role in 2017 and is a Liverpool fan.
Rich Fay
You only have to take a look at United's recent managerial record to realise the issues at the club stem far deeper than the man inside the dugout. Ten Hag's role is rightfully under question but with no standout candidate to replace him, he at least deserves a chance to prove himself under the new football structure before his position is properly considered.
The biggest changes at United will be those within the sporting structure above the manager. United need clearer identity and accountability and that should start with the appointment of an experienced CEO and a sporting director.
United must establish a footballing philosophy that everyone buys into, with a shared goal to deliver it across the business. For it to have any chance to work, it must be enforced right from the very top.
For far too long, they have come across as a club that simply doesn't care enough about performances on the pitch and until that changes for good, it doesn't really matter who manages the first team.
Steven Railston
United have been the worst buyers in football over the last decade and INEOS must overhaul the club's recruitment department, making radical changes and appointing a best-in-class sporting director. Recruitment has been dysfunctional and more than £1billion has been spent on a scattergun strategy, so the problem has never been spending the money but how it's been spectacularly wasted.
Getting the right sporting director through the door should help address that problem and it would be a genuine coup to persuade Dan Ashworth to swap St. James' Park for Old Trafford. Ashworth is the prime target choice for that role and the influence of Txiki Begiristain and Michael Edwards at Manchester City and Liverpool respectively shows how important the appointment is. Murtough must leave or be moved to another role, while it might also be worth making other appointments to support transfer negotiator Matt Hargreaves.
Isaac Johnson
United have been horrific when it comes to getting good fees for selling their players over the last decade, which is contributing to their current hesitancy to spend this month amid Premier League finance rules.
It’s pointless having a bag full of cash if you can't spend it properly. A good first footing would be to hire a new director of football and CEO who has a track record in money management.
Murtough’s future as football director seems in the balance and if Dan Ashworth likes the sound of a switch to Old Trafford from Newcastle then that’s a no-brainer. Under ten Hag alone, United have spent £400m including £85m on Antony, the club’s second-most expensive signing who hasn't scored since last April.