The sacking of Erik ten Hag from Manchester United raises some difficult questions for those in charge at the club. Many fans may wonder why the club didn’t act sooner and why they allowed potential replacements, such as Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel, to be snapped up elsewhere. Was the delay due to admirable loyalty or stubbornness that ultimately backfired? Furthermore, an end-of-season review in the summer, led by Sir Dave Brailsford, concluded it was right to stick with Ten Hag. So why did the ownership change their minds so quickly?
The new leadership at United can point to the need for change, but it remains to be seen whether their strategy will be successful. Ineos’ takeover means that the on-field failure can no longer be blamed on the Glazer family or the existing structure, as Ineos has taken control of footballing matters. This presents a challenge for the new leadership, who are now entirely responsible for success or failure. The decision to cut 250 jobs and save around £45m per year, as well as stripping back staff perks before last season’s FA Cup final, may have been necessary but it has also hurt morale.
The cost of everything, value of nothing approach has raised concerns about the destruction of the culture that underpins a meaningful sporting organization. Ratcliffe promised a fresh approach, but the reality is that the road to the top isn’t just a simple short-term fix, and it may take years before United becomes a true force again. Ineos’ record across their other sports teams has been mixed, and the patience Ineos displayed with their sailing team may have influenced the decision to give Ten Hag time. The hope is that eventually United will benefit from Ineos’ learnings from their other sports investments.
For the first time, perhaps, the new ownership at United realizes the daunting scale of the challenge that confronts them. The pressure is now on for them to get their first managerial appointment right. Only time will tell if they can revive United and restore it to the top of English football
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