Nicky Butt names the biggest change Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made since his Man United takeover

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There have been sweeping changes at Old Trafford since Sir Jim Ratcliffe completed his Manchester United takeover in December.

Manchester United fans were left waiting over a year for the club’s takeover saga to run its course. Eventually, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe ended up taking sporting control of the club after buying a 25 percent stake.

It was a monumental moment in the club’s history and already there have been several wholesale changes behind the scenes.

Ratcliffe and Ineos wasted no time chopping and changing the boardroom with Omar Berrada headhunted from Manchester City to be the club’s new CEO. He has been joined by directors Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox among a number of other high-profile appointments.

Ineos also made a decision on Erik ten Hag by handing him a one-year contract extension after his FA Cup success. However, the Dutchman’s coaching setup has changed with Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake just two of the new members in Ten Hag’s backroom staff.

There has been investment in the club’s training facilities and a renovation to Carrington, and talks are ongoing about potentially building a new state-of-the-art stadium.

Nicky Butt on Sir Jim Ratcliffe

It will take time for the changes to impact on-pitch performances, but the general feeling around Ratcliffe’s ownership is that United are heading in the right direction.

Nicky Butt has now given his verdict on the club’s new owners, and he believes their biggest impact has been on the club’s infrastructure.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Butt said: “They have filled gaps. United have been screaming out for a sporting director for 10 years and they’re probably the biggest club that hasn’t had one. He’s come in and seen the flaws. That side of it, he’s done it and time will only tell whether it’s successful.

“But the biggest thing for me is he’s identified the holes within the training complex, the facilities, stadium, and that’s so important because it’s so far behind it’s untrue.

“I describe Old Trafford and Carrington as a Lego set. They just keep adding on to it, particularly the training ground because that’s affordable. The stadium is a billion pound so that’s not as affordable. With the training ground, they should have just wiped the floor clean with that.

“They should have given it to the academy and women’s team and built a complex that is going to be the best in the country. United’s training ground is not in the top 10 in this country.

“Hopefully it will get done because the training ground was amazing when we moved there and that was 24 years ago. What they’ve done since then is add on like Lego and it doesn’t work. It’s like putting a plaster over a gaping wound. It covers it for a period and then spills over.”

Manchester United have a bright future under Ineos

Within less than a year, Ineos have already made a number of changes that the Glazers failed to make over decades.

A sporting director was a top priority and in Dan Ashworth United have the best in the business. They focused on bringing in elite individuals at boardroom level to help lay the foundations for the club’s success.

READ MORE: Sir Jim Ratcliffe set to spend £10m to terminate dozens of Man United deals

After an impressive summer transfer window, the club’s hierarchy can now turn their attention to other matters such as the decision on the stadium.

Finance expert Adam Williams calculates that a new stadium could earn United up to £230m per year. It’s a decision that won’t be rushed, but will have a huge impact on the club one way or another.

There is also a chance that United stay put at Old Trafford and expand, but things seem to be leaning towards a new stadium entirely.