Manchester United announce major change as Sir Jim Ratcliffe rebuild continues

Current Manchester United interim CEO Patrick Stewart is set to leave the club at the end of the season by mutual consent.

Former Juventus chief Jean-Claude Blanc, the head of INEOS Sport, will act as interim CEO with until Omar Berrada joins the club from Manchester City on July 13. It has also been announced that chief financial officer Cliff Batty will also exit in this summer, to be replaced by Roger Bell.

Stewart had stepped into the position of interim CEO after Richard Arnold’s exit in December and leaves United after 18 years in multiple roles. Baty has been chief financial officer since 2016. Berrada’s forthcoming arrival was announced in January.

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe said: “I would like to personally thank both Patrick and Cliff for their support in helping us get to know the club and making us feel welcome and I respect their decisions to now move on as we establish a new management team for the club.”

Joel Glazer added: “I would like to thank Patrick and Cliff for their dedicated service to Manchester United and wish them well for the future. Both have been a source of invaluable advice and expertise over many years, and Patrick has served an important role as interim CEO during this transitional phase.”

This move follows the appointment of Jason Wilcox as technical director as John Murtough steps down from his role as football director. United are furthermore chasing Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth, who has been put on gardening leave by his employers.