Manchester United fans are in seventh heaven with the changes that INEOS Group is making to the club, the latest being their chase for a technical director.
The Red Devils have operated for a long time without many key football officials which has led to the dilapidation of their football institution. The training facilities, the recruitment, and the technical direction of the team were all in shambles leading to fans’ protests to get the club’s owners, the Glazer family, out of the club.
Instead, the owners compromised and sold 25 percent of the club which comes with full control of the football institution. The buyers were INEOS Group, led by British billionaire and long-term Manchester United fan, Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The septuagenarian has set to work fixing all the personnel issues they had with a few key appointments. He is now set to appoint a new staff – a technical director – to oversee the scouting arm of the club. Their target is Jason Wilcox, who is reportedly preparing to leave the same role at EFL Championship club Southampton, to join Manchester United.
United are offering Southampton compensation for Wilcox as well, according to sources, which also report that the Saints have not accepted the deal or agreed on the compensation to be paid for the transfer of Wilcox’s services to Old Trafford from St Mary’s Stadium.
The bosses at the Championship club are not happy about the timing because of how close they are to returning to the Premier League. They are currently fourth on the table with two games in hand and in prime position for the promotion playoff later in the season.
Southampton manager Russell Martin said after their 3-2 defeat to Ipswich on Monday: “I would say give me at least 10 minutes to get over the disappointment of tonight and we’ll chat at some point this week and I’m sure I’ll have more for you.”
“I’ve not spoken to the club [about it]. You know my feelings on Jason, and I’ll have a chat with him after. I’ve just had a text saying how proud he was of the performance. The rest is once I’m told I’ll let you know.”
Wilcox is their second choice as their bid to pry Dan Ashworth from Newcastle United is facing bottlenecks placed by the Magpies.
He is a suggestion of United’s incoming CEO Omar Berrada as both worked together at Manchester City before Wilcox left. Wilcox was in charge of City’s academy and helped to groom the likes of Phil Foden, Oscar Bobb and Cole Palmer at the Etihad grounds.
