SPORTS AGENDA: Sir Jim Ratcliffe' charm offensive welcomed by Man United staff

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, whose 25 per cent stake in Manchester United is awaiting approval, appears to have made a better start to his involvement with the Premier League giants than the Glazers.

Ratcliffe and INEOS sport director Sir Dave Brailsford headed to Carrington and Old Trafford last week for a series of meetings with staff, which many commented was the first contact they had had with those at the top of the club since the Americans took over in 2005.

Ratcliffe also wrote to the Manchester United Supporters Trust, although he did not do likewise to The 1958 – the underground, vocal protest group. MUST were seen as the closest to an official fan club and a safer option.

In the meetings, Ratcliffe is not thought to have commented on reports he is planning to make job cuts. However, he did point out that his role was purely to work on the football side of the club and said that the commercial operation – which equates to a large number of United’s employees – was not his business.

Instead, he told staff, his job was to address the ‘performance gap’ and to return United to the top of world football. Reaction from those present was said to be positive.

Good news to report from the Carabao Cup. Agenda understands that there will be no VAR in the competition’s semi-finals – and we can thank Middlesbrough for that.

Given that the Championship side do not have VAR equipment installed at the Riverside Stadium the view is that – in the interests of fairness and consistency - the tournament will remain a VAR-free zone.

Sadly, such equipment is installed at Wembley and so VAR will rear its head at the final.

Those seeking to scrap FA Cup replays may want to have a word with some of the Premier League’s players if they are looking for