Sir Jim Ratcliffe will ‘entrust his new expert directors to make decision on struggling Man United boss Erik ten Hag’s fate’… with the Dutch manager’s credentials to be assessed over four key areas

Sir Jim Ratcliffe will reportedly task three directors to make a decision on whether Manchester United will part ways with under-fire manager Erik ten Hag this summer.

Mail Sport confirmed this week that the INEOS CEO and his leadership group at Old Trafford will not sack the Dutchman before their FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 25.

Yet major concerns are mounting over the 54-year-old’s future with the Red Devils following this season’s failures.

A 4-0 thrashing by Crystal Palace on Monday night heightened concerns over his future, with critics raising questions about his coaching style and ability to motivate his players. United have won just once in their last seven Premier League matches and dropped to eighth in the table.

Several big names from the world of football have been linked to succeed him as Red Devils manager, including Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel, but that can only happen if Ratcliffe and his leadership group decide to part ways with him.

United’s new owner will bring in some members of his new leadership group to help him make the decision

The Red Devils have had a miserable season under Ten Hag, which was exacerbated on Monday after they suffered a 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Amid a total overhaul of their management structure, United appear set to bring in a number of new executives to help the team bring back its previous success.

According to The Telegraph, the decision on Ratcliffe’s future is ‘a matter for the experts he entrusts to rebuild United’.

They report that interim CEO Jean-Claude Blanc, who took over from Richard Arnold, will be instrumental in providing incoming CEO Omar Berrada with “more eyes and ears on the ground” and that he will also be a “trusted is a voice that can provide expert insight’ .’

Newly appointed technical director Jason Wilcox will join the pair as part of that advisory group and the outlet claims he will also be a “key figure” in determining Ten Hag’s suitability for the position.

Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth is yet to arrive but appears to be moving closer to a move to Old Trafford and is likely to be included in the talks.

The trio will gather information on the Dutch football manager and, according to The Telegraph, will assess him on ‘his general approach, relationship with the dressing room and the qualifications and availability for potential replacements.’

Incoming CEO Omar Berrada (left) will be part of the group that must decide on the future of Ten Hag, alongside interim CEO Jean-Claude Blanc (right)

Technical director Jason Wilcox will also play a role in the process, as he assesses Ten Hag’s coaching and management strategies

United are yet to appoint Dan Ashworth as sporting director, but it is believed he will also have a say in the decision

United have won once in their last seven league matches and dropped to eighth place in the league

Ten Hag revealed in April, following Wilcox’s arrival, that the pair had been involved in an ‘intense’ dialogue and had become acquainted after the former Southampton director arrived at United last month.

Wilcox, meanwhile, has carried out an ‘audit’ into the Man United manager’s tactics and coaching ethos, according to The Telegraph.

Change appears to be in the air at Man United following Ratcliffe’s £1.3 billion investment in the football club, and while INEOS hasn’t completed a full takeover, they are certainly making some huge reforms.

On Monday, Ratcliffe sent out a company-wide email, according to The Guardian, telling them he was scrapping the club’s current hybrid work policy due to concerns about the productivity of the staff working from home.