John Murtough to leave Manchester United as INEOS focus on key double appointment

John Murtough has stepped down from his role as Manchester United football director and will leave the club by the end of the week.

Murtough has been at the club for over a decade since arriving from the Premier League in 2013, when he was hired by former manager David Moyes to overhaul their football structure, and he was named as the club's inaugural football director in March 2021.

His role was always in doubt following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment, with the Ineos Group eager to overhaul the entire sporting structure of the club. The only doubt was whether Murtough would be repurposed into another role at the club or if he would leave the company entirely.

United plan to replace Murtough with the appointment of Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth, while the club are still in talks to appoint Southampton director of football Jason Wilcox as their technical director. Former chief executive Richard Arnold has already left, with Omar Berrada set to officially join from Man City this summer.

Former United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward was the man who appointed Murtough as the club’s first football director three years ago, as the club did not want someone who specialised in recruitment. During his decade at the club, United have won four major trophies but have been widely perceived to have spent poorly in the transfer market. Ratcliffe famously referred to them as ‘dumb’ money given their poor track record of signing players.

His exit is the latest step in Ineos’ plans to overhaul the sporting structure of the club and implement a ‘best in class’ hierarchy. Ashworth is the sole target for the sporting director role to replace Murtough and has already been placed on gardening leave after asking to depart the club.

United have been working on a deal to appoint Wilcox for the last couple of months and view the 53-year-old as a key figure in their new sporting structure. Club sources insist they have been respectful and followed correct processes by making an official approach for his services.