John Murtough will be the next director to leave Manchester United, as the Old Trafford cull gathers pace.
Earlier this week United announced CEO Richard Arnold was stepping down. And sporting director Murtough looks poised to follow him through the exit door, as sweeping boardroom changes continue at the fallen giants.
Incoming owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is overseeing a root and branch review of how the club is run behind the scenes. Along with fellow Ineos director and former British Cycling chief Sir Dave Brailsford, Ratcliffe is keen to establish why United have been malfunctioning in recent years.
Ratcliffe is poised to complete a deal that will see him buy 25% of the club for £1.4billion. He will oversee the football side of the business – and he is now calling the shots.
It’s understood Ratcliffe has been less than impressed with United’s recruitment in the transfer market, and holds Murtough responsible. United tried but failed to sign England stars Harry Kane and Declan Rice in the summer.
Murtough became United’s first ever football director when he was promoted to the role from his previous position as the club’s head of football development. He was tasked with overseeing operations and strategy across all football functions at the club.
Murtough joined United in November 2013, having worked with David Moyes at Everton. Prior to that that he was head of elite performance at the Premier League, following senior academy and player development roles at other clubs.
The Red Devils are in desperate need of a shake-up following a relatively trophy-barren decade since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure. They’ve made their worst start to a Premier League campaign this season after losing five matches before November, and they’re rock bottom of their Champions League group with three defeats in four games.
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