Sir Jim Ratcliffe made his first major power play at Manchester United by axing the club’s chief executive Richard Arnold.
Ineos supremo Ratcliffe is set to take control of 25 per cent of the Red Devils for £1.3billion from loathed US owners the Glazers.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to lead an overhaul of personnel at Old Trafford Credit: PA
And his first move was to get rid of Arnold, who has spent 16 years at Old Trafford and took over from Ed Woodward as CEO last year.
Former Juventus chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc, Ineos’ Sport CEO, has emerged as one of the favourites to take the role.
He works closely with the Ineos director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford, the British cycling mastermind who is believed to have regularly visited United’s Carrington HQ ahead of Ratcliffe’s imminent deal, which will see the Brit billionaire take on sporting operations.
Arnold, 52, said: “It has been an incredible privilege to serve this club for the past 16 years. Through highs and lows, the constant has been the dedication of our employees and fans.”
United board member and chief legal counsel Patrick Stewart is temporary CEO, with Arnold set to leave next month.
Richard Arnold has officially confirmed he is leaving the club
Arnold was praised by co-chairman Joel Glazer, who said: “I’d like to thank Richard for his outstanding service over the past 16 years, and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”
Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman is in the frame for a similar role at United when Ratcliffe takes over sporting control at Old Trafford.
He has helped Palace sign the likes of Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi and Cheick Doucoure.
The men ready to take charge at Man Utd
Dougie Freedman
Dougie Freedman has accrued an impressive reputation as Crystal Palace sporting director Credit: PA:Empics Sport
Dougie Freedman is a former Crystal Palace player and manager.
He played more than 300 games for them, and also also managed Palace between January 2011 and October 2012, before he went on to coach Bolton and Nottingham Forest.
In 2017, he was appointed as sporting director for the club and has brought a host of talent to the club such as Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Marc Guehi.
He has held the role as sporting director ever since – making him one of the longest-serving in the Premier League.
He has helped Palace build a new academy which created a pathway for the likes of Tyrick Mitchell.
Palace will be keen to keep hold of their man, but he is continually being linked with a move to Old Trafford.
He is currently in Indonesia at the Under-17 World Cup with the idea of locating possible signings.
Jean-Claude Blanc
Jean-Claude Blanc is CEO of Ratcliffe’s Ineos Sport
Jean-Claude Blanc has a history within football and previously worked for both Paris Saint Germain and Juventus.
He held various roles at Juventus between 2006 and 2011 including CEO, president and chairman of the board.
After leaving the Italian giants, he joined Paris Saint-Germain as their CEO.
He left in December of last year and is now CEO of Ineos Sport.
Dave Brailsford
Dave Brailsford, right, also already works for Ratcliffe at Ineos Credit: Getty
Dave Brailsford made his name working for British Cycling where he became performance director in 2003.
He oversaw an era of great success at the Olympic Games, before he also became manager of the road cycling outfit Team Sky in 2010.
Following Ineos’ takeover of Team Sky in 2019, Brailsford began working with Ratcliffe.
In 2021, Brailsford was appointed director of sport at Ineos and it is rumoured he will be brought in to work for Man Utd when Ratcliffe’s minority takeover is complete.
