What the new Manchester United structure means for the manager, players and staff

While Manchester United wait for Dan Ashworth to be freed from his garden, the new power brokers have a crystal clear vision for the club.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe refused to entertain any remote criticism of Sir Dave Brailsford during Wednesday's briefing with journalists at the Ineos office in Knightsbridge. Brailsford's wheelhouse is cycling yet Ratcliffe is convinced the Ineos sporting director can oversee the transformation of United into a credible footballing force again.

Ratcliffe was dismissive of the infamous Jiffy bag case and the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee's conclusion that Team Sky "crossed an ethical line" on Brailsford's watch. Ratcliffe scoffed at the mention of Sir Clive Woodward, the England Rugby World Cup-winning coach whom Southampton attempted to rebrand as a sporting director. They were relegated.

READ MORE: My hour with Sir Jim Ratcliffe was everything United fans could want - Cantona would approve

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In a transcript totalling 7,479 words, Ratcliffe was quotable and forthright. His manifesto also detailed a new style United intend to settle on.

"We’ll decide," he stressed. "That team of people, it’ll be us, plus the CEO (Omar Berrada), sporting director, probably the recruitment guys what the style of football is and that will be the Manchester United style of football. And the coach will have to play that style of football."

Those last 10 words are the most relevant for Erik ten Hag. United have not mastered the controlling style he was renowned for at Ajax, where there is a defined approach and the thread runs from the first team down to the junior teams.

United are still a