'Every person in management must be world-class' - Sir Jim Ratcliffe sends veiled warning to Erik ten Hag and admits 'culture was missing' at struggling Man Utd before £1.2bn investment

The Lancashire-born billionaire had his minority stake purchase in the club ratified on Tuesday and vowed to renew the performance structures within the club which he described as "not good". The INEOS chief pledged to create a sporting culture that was "positive, supportive, friendly and high-quality" something Ratcliffe damningly said was "missing" at the club.

"We have to look at the organisation of the club, because at the moment it is not right," Ratcliffe told De Tijd. "Take the manager: he has to report directly to the CEO. That is no longer possible in a modern football organisation.

"We have to make sure that the right people end up in the right positions. Every person in management has to be world-class. And then we have to create a positive, supportive, friendly and quality environment. That culture was missing before. Only in such an environment can you get the best out of sportsmen. If that succeeds, the results will automatically follow. That's the plan and I believe in it."

The formalities may have been concluded on Tuesday, but Ratcliffe and his performance team have been working behind the scenes for weeks with INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford regularly spotted at United. The appointment of Omar Berrada, poached from Manchester City to become the new CEO, was another strong indication that Ratcliffe is keen to make up time that United have lost as rivals have developed sophisticated recruitment and performance departments while the Red Devils have muddled along in an ad-hoc manners under the ownership of the Glazers.

Ratcliffe is not waiting around and it seems certain that Dan Ashworth will arrive at Old Trafford as the new sporting director after news that he had been placed on gardening leave by Newcastle United. Former Blackburn winger Jason Wilcox looks set to arrive from Southampton as a technical director as the much-needed modernisation of the club gathers pace.