Sir Jim Ratcliffe flies into Manchester for talks with Glazer family and Man United’s new interim boss Michael Carrick – as meeting location is changed after turbulent fortnight

Manchester United co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer have held face-to-face talks with minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and senior executives at Carrington to discuss the latest crisis at the club.

It follows the decision to sack head coach Ruben Amorim and replace him with Michael Carrick until the end of the season amid growing unrest among fans.

Executive committee meetings usually take place near Ratcliffe’s base in Monaco, but United were reluctant to drag chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox away from their desks at the moment.

It has also given the Glazers and Ratcliffe an opportunity to speak to Carrick and his new coaching team in person.

Ratcliffe’s visit has coincided with reports that he has significantly cut his £173.5million asking price for Nice as he looks to sell the French club. 

The January meeting carries added significance for Ratcliffe and Co amid the chaos that has followed Amorim’s sudden exit, with United drawing 1-1 against relegation candidates Burnley and crashing out of the FA Cup to Brighton. 

The club has been plunged into chaos since the sudden dismissal of Amorim on January 4

The visit to Manchester will also give Ratcliffe and the Glazer family (above – Joel, right, and Avram, left) the opportunity to speak with new interim boss Michael Carrick and his staff

The turbulent spell has once again led to unease among Manchester United supporters.

Fan group The 1958 led multiple protests last season and they will hold a march at Old Trafford ahead of the club’s Premier League clash with Fulham on February 1.

There are also concerns over whether United can feasibly qualify for the Champions League.

The Red Devils have slipped to seventh in the table and rather than build a sense of certainty by hiring a permanent manager, they have brought in Carrick on an interim basis reminiscent of Ralf Rangnick’s sketchy spell in charge in 2021-22. 

United sit seventh in the table but, encouragingly, they are only a point behind Brentford in fifth and three off Liverpool in fourth.  

The club’s commercial position is also expected to be discussed at the executive meeting.

In December, it emerged that the club’s net debt had topped $1bn (£747m) for the first time after the club borrowed £105m for summer recruitment.

United remain without a training-ground kit partner or a replacement shirt-sleeve sponsor for when the DXC deal ends in the summer. 

Carrick, who was chosen ahead of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to be United’s head coach until the end of the season, will be assisted by former England No 2 Steve Holland and his old Middlesbrough first-team coach Jonathan Woodgate.

He is also joined by fellow Man United team-mate Jonny Evans and U21s coach Travis Binnion.

Those appointments have not impressed legend Roy Keane. He told the Stick to Football podcast: ‘He’s on the beach two weeks ago Jonny Evans. Jonny Evans leaves Man United four or five weeks ago as a loans manager and then Darren Fletcher gives him a job, strangely enough gives him a job.

‘He has two games, Fletch goes and Carrick gives him a job, great isn’t it. We should all go to Barbados for a week.

‘You’re on about getting your coaching staff in, you’re praising one of them saying he’s experienced and then we just let the other two go, Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans. What has Jonny Evans done to be a coach of Man United’s first team?

‘He left the job four weeks ago – loans manager and ironically comes back working with the first team. That’s a big step up isn’t it?’

Meanwhile, Darren Fletcher, who stood in as caretaker manager prior to Carrick’s arrival, has now returned to coach United’s U18s.