The transfer window at Manchester United this summer was a certain success with the signing of five players and more importantly, getting more than £100 million from sales.
Therefore, it was fair to assume that the executive leadership in place for the window is Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s desired setup.
Apparently, that’s not the case if recent developments in reports are to be believed with regard to the executive structure in place.
A key part of the window in the summer at Old Trafford is set to depart the club with immediate effect as Ineos ring more changes.
Andy O’Boyle to leave Man Utd
David Ornstein reports that Andy O’Boyle, who worked closely with Dan Ashworth, Omar Berrada, and Co. this window is set to leave Man United with immediate effect.
He was the Deputy Director of Football at the club and was one of the few people appointed under the Glazers who kept his job this long.
In some ways, this change could be expected since he was a Glazer man but then, so is Erik ten Hag but Ineos didn’t change him just for the sake of it.
O’Boyle was receiving glowing reviews in his position and the report states that he played a key role in the incoming of all five players this summer.
O’Boyle joined United in 2022, leaving a role with the Premier League where he was head of elite performance.
Joining under John Murtough’s role as sporting director, he was widely expected to follow him out of the door but Ineos clearly saw something in him which made them stick rather than twist, until now.
What next at Old Trafford?
More than this announcement being a definitive judgment on his abilities, it could just be that his job title just didn’t fit in the new structure brought by Ineos.
Dan Ashworth is the sporting director reporting to CEO Omar Berrada, while Jason Wilcox is the technical director reporting to Dan Ashworth.
There is oversight from Sir Dave Brailsford over everything with Sir Jim Ratcliffe at the head of the table. It is clear from this that there is no obvious need for a deputy sporting director.
Furthermore, Christopher Vivell, who joined in preparation for this window as the head of recruitment in a temporary capacity, is widely expected to be appointed permanently.
It would not necessarily have made sense to make a change in advance of, or during the transfer window, undercutting preparations already made. Now with the window over, Ineos believe the timing is right to make a switch.
Vivell would probably work with Ashworth and Wilcox in the identification market across age groups while they focus on negotiations afterward.
Therefore, it would be a surprise if United appoint a replacement for O’Boyle, especially since they already retained Matt Hargreaves to help with negotiations.
Ultimately, O’Boyle was always on borrowed time since he worked in a position that simply didn’t exist in the new setup.
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