Key Man Utd chief ‘leaving’ with ‘meeting’ for new Ratcliffe, INEOS cuts revealed

According to reports, Manchester United’s director of scouting is ‘leaving’ the Premier League after ‘declining an offer’ from INEOS.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s takeover of the Premier League giants was initially met with overwhelming positivity as it took control away from the Glazer family, but his popularity has quickly evaporated.

The British billionaire has felt it was necessary to sanction a huge cost-cutting programme to balance the books at Man Utd.

Some cuts have been deemed too harsh as there have been mass redundancies, axing payments to club legends and scrapping free lunches for staff.

There have already been huge changes at Old Trafford, but loads of work still needs doing and more staff redundancies are expected in the coming months.

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Now, a report from The Athletic reveals ‘director of scouting Steve Brown is leaving the club as part of wide-ranging changes to the recruitment strategy at Old Trafford’.

Brown is said to be  ‘the highest-profile member of the department to depart United amid the restructuring’ and more staff exits are coming.

‘The number of scouts employed by United will fall significantly as the second redundancy drive of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s reign kicks into action.

‘Meetings involving human resources are being arranged for next week at Carrington, where those at risk of losing their jobs will be informed.

‘United have a global army of around 80 scouts and Ratcliffe has made it clear he feels this number is too high.

‘Staffing levels in this area had already been reduced from a couple of years ago when United employed 140 scouts — 50 full-time and 90 part-time.’

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The report also claims Brown turned down an ‘alternative role’ to stay on at Man Utd.

‘He informed scouts of his decision in an email, explaining he had declined the offer of an alternative role from technical director Jason Wilcox and director of recruitment Christopher Vivell due to his experience and career timing.

‘Brown thanked his colleagues for their efforts and called United a “special place”. He will continue working until the end of June.

‘The end of April marks the point at which United need to announce intentions after chief executive Omar Berrada informed staff of a new wave of redundancies on February 24.

‘It is anticipated up to 200 people will lose their jobs, following on from the 250 cut last summer.’