Richard Arnold takes over from Ed Woodward as chief executive today. The succession is long overdue, with Woodward being in charge in 2013.
Woodward’s tenure has been a total failure, going through four permanent managers and now onto an interim, with no league titles to show for it.
United have sunk from regular title winners to not even challenging. Richard Arnold has a big job to do, and has to prove he is not just Woodward’s lackey.
There are major issues for Arnold to address as he starts picking up the pieces from Woodward’s eight and a half years in charge.
1) Appoint a new manager
Manchester United’s biggest task is to appoint a new manager. United only have an interim boss at present and the next step is a huge one.
An interim was hired in order to allow United to take their time over the next move and get it right. Arnold will pick up the process which should already be well underway, and speak to potential targets.
United have to get this one right. Managers have been hired and fired under Woodward after failing to find or sustain any success.
The club need to find the right man, who supporters can unite behind. Finding the next Sir Alex Fergsuon may be a near-impossible task, but Arnold will want to find a manager who can last, and will not end up being sacked within a couple of years. This is a fresh start and United must use it.
2) Give real power to Rangnick as consultant
Ralf Rangnick is scheduled to become a consultant for two years once his spell as interim boss expires. He needs to be given real power in this role.
It’s not off to a great start, after Rangick reportedly gave permission for Jesse Lingard to leave [via The Mail], only for the club to overrule him.
United need to leave the football decisions to Rangnick once he becomes consultant, in conjunction with director of football John Murtough.
Arnold has to give Rangnick the freedom and power to make decisions, not just recommendations which will be ignored.
3) Deal with club’s wage issue and make Paul Pogba decision
United have too many players. 17 are currently out on loan, and there any many who still wanted to leave and were denied the chance.
It is important to reduce the wage bill, and stop giving over-inflated wages and contract extensions to players who do not deserve it.
Also factoring into this discussion is United’s decision over Paul Pogba. The Mail reports Pogba has not received a contract offer.
Arnold and/or Murtough and Rangnick have to decide whether to stick to this plan, looking at how it impacts the rest of United’s wage structure if a late offer is made to try and keep the Frenchman.
The Pogba decision is part of a wider strategic discussion which Arnold has to decide on in relation to player salaries.
4) Plan for Ronaldo exit
Manchester United chose not to back Ralf Rangnick in the January transfer market and must deal with the consequences. One of these is a very real risk the club fail to make the top four.
If that happens, Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to want to leave the club. Who could blame him? He did not sign up for the Europa League.
United must plan for this eventuality, have a contingency, and not be caught short in the summer trying to find a replacement or turning it into a distracting saga.
This is an issue which will mean a lot to commercially-focused Arnold, who knows the benefits Ronaldo brings to United off the pitch and in the Megastore.
Even if Ronaldo stays another season or two, United need a plan for when he does depart. You cannot build long-term around a 36-year-old, no matter how good he is.
5) Take strong stance on Mason Greenwood fallout
There is not much we can say here. There is a legal case ongoing. But it has to be addressed, United cannot simply ignore it.
For Manchester United, there is no escaping the situation. The world is watching how the biggest football club in the world reacts to an ugly saga like this.
If United get the response wrong (and so far it has been spot on) then there will be huge public and media anger, and probably of even more concern to a commercial mind like Arnold, sponsors will express their displeasure too and even threaten to walk away.
The backlash will be fierce if United make a mis-step. It is an unwelcome saga for any new chief executive to walk into, and this one is nothing to do with Woodward either. But Arnold has to lead, and deal with it in the appropriate manner.
- Louis van Gaal approached former Man Utd talent at half-time and told him he would be making his debut at 18
- Man Utd set to make Cristian Romero approach, claims reliable Argentine journalist
- Man Utd fans’ biggest pet peeve about Gary Neville is finally addressed and answer isn’t ‘black and white’
- Tino Livramento says Kobbie Mainoo makes him go ‘wow’ in England training due to one thing, ‘So good…’
- Noussair Mazraoui’s World Cup analysis shows ‘elite’ bracket that Man Utd teammate could hit in his career
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
