New Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly sent a note to members of staff at the club calling to increase the tidiness around Carrington and Old Trafford, picking out the IT department and the academy changing rooms as particular concerns.
The billionaire is overseeing an overhaul of the club since arriving earlier in the season. He has already brought in Sir Dave Brailsford, while Omar Berrada will start as CEO in the summer. United are also making a move to bring in Dan Ashworth as sporting director.
It is now reported that Ratcliffe himself has been undertaking an audit of all elements of the club, which involved a recent visit to Carrington and Old Trafford. That has prompted a request from the new co-owner on the cleanliness around the place.
READ MORE: Manchester United’s path to Europe explained with exact permutations following Chelsea blow
READ MORE: Guardiola ‘problem’, telling nickname – Inside Erik ten Hag’s Bayern Munich spell as return ‘eyed’
“I had a good two-day visit to both Carrington and Old Trafford this week. As ever I was made to feel very welcome. Thank you,” the Daily Mail reports a note sent to all staff as saying.
“I had a good tour around some of the facilities. I am afraid I was struck in many places by a high degree of untidiness. In particular the IT department which frankly was a disgrace and the dressing rooms of the U18 and U21 were not much better.
“These standards would not come close to what we would expect at INEOS and we are a chemical company. Manchester United is an elite sporting organisation.
“It’s a small thing in many ways but unless an organisation has standards and discipline it will not succeed.”
The note goes on to add: “I would be grateful in future if we adopt the proper standards of housekeeping everywhere. It reflects poorly on the club if we have visitors, young player parents, new players and the media and they see we don’t care enough to keep things shipshape.”
Brailsford is known for his ‘marginal gains’ approach, with this being an example of how the new regime could impact even the smallest things around the club. The Daily Mail report adds that United were approached for comment.
