SPORTS AGENDA: Speed of change at Manchester United has been rapid but there are no plans to redevelop Old Trafford yet… PLUS, Jurgen Klopp’s resignation shocks those at Premier League HQ

The speed of change at Manchester United – despite the fact that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’s 25 per cent stake is still to be ratified by the Premier League – has been rapid. 

Earlier this month, in what is being viewed as an INEOS hire, Omar Berrada was announced as new chief executive, joining from rivals Manchester City. 

And last week Agenda discovered that a large group of surveyors had descended on Old Trafford and were spotted at various points around the stadium and on the car park, armed with theodolites – tripod-mounted precision instruments used for measuring angles. 

Some wondered if this was the latest sign of progress under INEOS, and whether much-needed development of the old ground was finally on the way. 

However, it is understood that the club’s stadium drawings needed to be updated to satisfy environmental regulations and that the group’s arrival was, sadly, not the first sign of major refurbishment.

It was thought that the first signs of refurbishment at Old Trafford were underway earlier on last week

Reds evacuation

The announcement that Jurgen Klopp was to leave Liverpool at the end of the season caught many by surprise – few more so than the Premier League. 

Staff at competition HQ in Paddington were outside following a fire alarm when the news broke.

Hammers on song

West Ham United appear to have struck one of the deals of the window by bringing Kalvin Phillips to the London Stadium, fighting off a number of rivals to land the services of the Manchester City man on loan for the rest of the season. 

And the Hammers have also been quick to try and cash in. While the England midfielder is only with the club on loan, the West Ham website is already advertising shirts with Phillips’ number (11) and name on the back.

Kalvin Phillips is only at West Ham on loan, but the club is already advertising shirts with his name and number on

Leeds owners busy

Leeds United’s owners, San Francisco 49ers, have penned a 10-year, £134m stadium naming rights deal with Levi’s, to continue the jeans firm’s sponsorship of the venue in Santa Clara, which opened in 2014. 

The deal is expected to be ratified on Tuesday at a venue which has, aside from NFL, hosted the likes of Taylor Swift, Beyonce and the Rolling Stones. 

It would come as no surprise if, following the proposed redevelopment of Elland Road, similar acts head to a part of the country currently without a major stadium concert venue.

Leeds United’s owners have penned a 10-year, £134million stadium naming rights deal with jean firm Levi’s

Bursell to lead the way

Earlier this month England’s men’s rugby players ditched the Rugby Players’ Association as negotiators of contracts and commercial deals with the Rugby Football Union, following a 20-year relationship. 

It has now been confirmed, via an update on networking site LinkedIn, that they dedicated employee they have chosen to head the new ‘Team England Rugby Ltd’ is Gaia Bursell – who was head of commercial at the RPA until last March.

Murray’s regret

Former Sunderland supremo Sir Bob Murray has written an autobiography – and it may make for uncomfortable reading for one of his former managers.

In an interview with Mail Sport’s former north east correspondent Colin Young, Murray is asked if he had any regrets from his 20 years in charge at Roker Park and the Stadium of Light. 

‘I made a really bad decision with Howard (Wilkinson, who replaced Peter Reid as manager in 2002),’ Murray, whose book is titled I’d Do It All Again, states. ‘I asked who he wanted to bring with him, and he said Steve Cotterill. 

‘I didn’t know that they didn’t know each other, and they both wanted to be manager, so they worked against each other from day one. The whole thing immediately went wrong. When I say I’d do it all again, I wouldn’t hire Howard.’ 

It would appear that the admission may not come as a surprise to former Leeds boss Wilkinson. ‘He’s the only guy in the world who doesn’t speak to me,’ self-made millionaire Murray added. ‘We were at (BBC presenter) Harry Gration’s memorial service in York Minster and he blanked me – but I won’t lose any sleep over it.’

Sir Bob Murray has admitted that he regrets making Howard Wilkinson manager of the club

Wilkinson (left) replaced Peter Reid as manager in 2002 and brought Steve Cotterill (right) to the club

All not well at Fulham

An advert to promote the facilities featured in the new stand at Fulham’s Craven Cottage has raised a few eyebrows. 

The ad, by Portview Fit Out Specialists, shows the Thames-facing back of the eye-catching structure, with people enjoying the rooftop pool, sauna, gym and plush living and working spaces. However, one eagle-eyed watcher spotted that almost all of those featured have one thing in common – they all appear to be white. 

Meanwhile, issues among sections of the club’s fanbase and its ownership continue, with the £40 price set for tickets for Saturday night’s televised FA Cup match with Newcastle doing little to appease.