For Manchester United, this summer has been one of change at all levels of the club from top to bottom.
The executive structure was overhauled, Manchester United’s coaching staff saw a revamp, and the United squad could look much different at the end of the window.
As with every change, the new regime comes with its own set of people so some benefit, some get unlucky, and some keep coasting.
Something similar happened to Erik ten Hag’s support staff after four new arrivals in quick time and the departure of two of his closest assistant managers. One man has come out of it with a ‘more integral’ presence.
Travis Binnion on Man United coaching staff
After the startling success of the age-group sides at Manchester United last season, the U21s coach Travis Binnion is at the top of the world.
He recently sat down with Manchester Evening News to talk about the players breaking through in Harry Amass, Ethan Wheatley, and Toby Collyer, while explaining changed happening behind the scenes.
A big change, he said, is in the dynamic of the coaching staff, understandable after such a large-scale overhaul.
Amidst all the change, Binnion picked out one person who’s become more integral, ironically since that person was among the names whose job was considered under threat. That name is Darren Fletcher.
Fletcher was expected to be under threat of losing his job after Jason Wilcox became the first arrival under Ineos, being given the job title that Fletcher held- Technical director.
However, instead of leaving, his job was redefined and he’s now part of the first-team coaching setup, and an even more integral one at that.
Binnion said: “Fletch [Darren Fletcher] has become even more integral in the first-team coaching set-up, so for me now, he was really important in terms of day-to-day involvement, loans and player minutes.
“I got close to Mitchell [Van der Gaag] about what he saw each day, but with Fletch increasing his amount of coaching, I’ve kind of got one person to deal with now for almost everything, so Mitchell has gone and that’s happened, but Fletch is doing more and that’s only a good thing for our younger players.”
Darren Fletcher’s role at United
With Erik ten Hag making such a concerted attempt at bringing through young players from the youth team, Fletcher’s role in bridging that gap has become crucial.
Many players have credited him for his help during their breakthrough and it’s a path he knows well since he traveled it himself in his playing career.
Despite getting many outside voices to Ten Hag’s coaching team, Ineos have made sure that the links to the club’s history remain strong.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s appointment was a similar step and the fact he came with robust coaching credentials was a huge bonus.
Fletcher, on the other hand, is a similar case of having links with the club but his contribution extends as the one pillar of continuity in a sea of change.
His job profile as a technical director didn’t make sense anyway since he’s always been on the pitch and in the dugout helping the manager.
The new streamlining has given clarity to everyone in their roles and fans will be confident knowing that those people are thriving in the current setup.
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