With Manchester United’s season going from bad to worse to a complete and utter disaster, it is hard to believe that Erik ten Hag might yet hold onto his job.
Many believe the Dutchman’s time is up regardless of what happens in United’s final three Premier League games and the FA Cup final against rivals Manchester City.
That decision will not be made until after season’s end however, and will be made by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team.
The British billionaire has spent the first few months since his partial takeover of the club assembling a boardroom capable of bringing the glory days back to the Theatre of Dreams.
So, who are the five key men who have Ten Hag’s (and indeed Manchester United’s) fate in their hands?
Dave Brailsford
Sir Dave Brailsford is the Director of Sport at INEOS and was formerly the head of cycling for Team GB, overseeing years of incredible success on the road and track.
Ratcliffe has placed the 60-year-old in charge of transitioning control of United’s football operations away from the Glazers and he will play a pivotal role in how the club is reshaped under the new regime.
Brailsford was attending games and visiting the Carrington training centre before the takeover was even complete, and though it is said he will be taking more of a backseat role once all the key figures are in place, he will continue to be Ratcliffe’s eyes and ears.
He has also notably been conducting his own appraisal of Ten Hag, holding one-to-one meetings with the players to get a sense of whether the former Ajax boss is up to the task.
Jean-Claude Blanc
Jean-Claude Blanc is the CEO of INEOS Sport and has been appointed interim CEO of United until Omar Berrada (more on him later) arrives.
Once that happens, the 61-year-old will retain a place on the board in an advisory role, and alongside Brailsford is one of Ratcliffe’s right-hand men.
But with key personnel still on their way, Blanc will have a big say in the future of Ten Hag and other big decisions that will be made over the next couple of months.
The Frenchman is highly-regarded from his time at Juventus and PSG, particularly the former where he ensured the Italian giants didn’t fall apart after the 2006 match-fixing scandal, meaning he is well-placed to handle United’s current crisis.
Omar Berrada
The aforementioned Berrada is currently on gardening leave and does not formally start work until 13 July when he will relive Blanc of the job of chief executive.
Nevertheless, given his importance the 46-year-old is surely having some say on who should be in the Old Trafford dugout next season.
Berrada was highly sought after by Brailsford and Blanc following his impressive work on the blue side of Manchester, which included helping City win the race for Erling Haaland’s signature.
Jason Wilcox
Jason Wilcox has been appointed technical director on the recommendation of Berrada after they worked together at the Etihad.
The former Southampton man will have the biggest say of all when it comes to whether or not Ten Hag keeps his job, as he has the task of establishing United’s new identity and playing style that will define the club for years to come.
He’s been conducting an audit of the manager, his coaching staff and training methods and if they don’t match up with his plan there is only one outcome…
Dan Ashworth
Ordinarily, incoming sporting director Dan Ashworth would make the final recommendation to the board as to whether Ten Hag stays or goes.
However, the 53-year-old has been put on gardening leave by Newcastle until the end of 2025 and are demanding United pay £20million to sign him earlier – the Red Devils only want to pay £5m in compensation.
The matter is reportedly now set to be decided by a third-party court of arbitration and could be decided by the end of the May.
Nevertheless, it seems highly unlikely that Ashworth is not being consulted on Ten Hag and potential managerial successors as we speak, but the final decision is likely to come down to Wilcox, Berrada and Blanc.
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