Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’ influence at Man United will go BEYOND football, club staff are told… with British billionaire and his team to be closely involved in key business decisions

The influence of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team will stretch beyond football operations, Manchester United staff have been told.

When the petrochemicals billionaire agreed to buy a 25 per cent stake in the club it was announced that his group would purely take control of matters on the field at Old Trafford.

However, in a group call with workers on Wednesday interim chief executive Patrick Stewart disclosed that such a situation is impractical and that there will be a broader scope given the undeniable link between United’s commercial and sporting operations.

It means that Ratcliffe and his people, whose deal is set to be rubber-stamped by the Premier League in the middle of next month – will be closely involved with majority owners the Glazers when it comes to business decisions. Both groups will discuss major moves to ensure there is harmony within the running of the club.

Insiders have disclosed that it was ‘unrealistic’ to think that the football and business sides of the club could have been run as separate entities.

Sir Dave Brailsford (centre left) has been prominent since INEOS’ 25% stake was announced

The appointment of Omar Berrada as incoming chief executive officer will see the former Manchester City man across all elements of the business. His arrival is widely viewed as an INEOS appointment. 

As Mail Sport revealed, INEOS head of sport Sir Dave Brailsford made initial contact before Ratcliffe and then the Glazers met Berrada for discussions.

Stewart reiterated the change in direction at United which will see performance on the field at the heart of every decision. 

Staff have been told to reflect on what they can do in their roles to assist the club in its priority of winning matches.

The view within Old Trafford is that this is a marked change from life before Ratcliffe, when it was generally viewed that if the club was ‘there or thereabouts’ and challenging for honours it was sufficient. The tone of the call led some to believe that cuts may be part of that change. 

INEOS are known to streamline business and trim fat where necessary and United – in some areas – are viewed as bloated.