Sir Dave Brailsford 'officially begins working' for Man United

• Sir Dave Brailsford officially began working for United on Sunday
• Brailsford will be on United’s football board once the INEOS deal is completed
• Chris Sutton and Ian Ladyman give their best sporting moments of the year on It’s All Kicking Off 

The INEOS era at Manchester United effectively began on Sunday, with Sir Dave Brailsford arriving at Carrington in an officialy capacity.

One of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s most trusted lieutenants, Brailsford will be part of United’s football board once INEOS’ takeover of a 25 percent stake in the club is completed.

United and Ratcliffe announced on Christmas Eve that the British billionaire had agreed a £1.3billion deal to acquire a minority stake in the club after 13 months of negotiations.

The Premier League is expected to take between six to eight weeks to approve the takeover, which will see INEOS take charge of the football operations at Old Trafford.

According to The Athletic, Brailsford was accompanied on his first day by football director John Murtough and interim chief executive Patrick Stewart

Sir Dave Brailsford (middle) officially began working for Manchester United on Sunday

Brailsford will be a key figure in United’s new football board, which will be installed once Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25 percent takeover is ratified

The 59-year-old is expected to talk to manager Erik ten Hag as well as coaching and recruitment staff.

The former British Cycling performance director, Brailsford is INEOS’ director of sport and was at Old Trafford to watch United beat Aston Villa on Boxing Day.

He also attended United’s dismal defeat to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday.

A clause contained in a 241-page deal document published on the New York Stock Exchange earlier this week, confirmed United must consult Ratcliffe if they want to sack ten Hag or sign any players while the INEOS owner’s £1.3billion investment is being ratified.

Speaking ahead of the trip to Nottingham, ten Hag said he was eager to speak to the new minority owners soon.

Brailsford (right) attended United’s 2-1 to Nottingham Forest on Saturday at the City Ground alongside Sir Alex Ferguson (left)

Erik ten Hag insisted he has the backing of INEOS and is eager to speak to the new owners

‘The schedule is so condensed so I didn’t have the time so far to speak with them, but it will come and I look forward [to it],’ he said.

‘They want to work with me, I want to work with them. We will have the conversations, the meetings, so we will see.’

Asked if he expected INEOS executives to be a regular presence at Carrington, ten Hag replied: ‘There will be time for this and then I know more.

‘But I think it’s a good thing, it’s very positive and, as I said, we are looking really forward to working together.

‘INEOS wants to work with me, in this structure, and I want to work with them.’

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

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The Dutchman’s future has come under scrutiny following 14 defeats this season, including nine in 20 Premier League games, but he insisted he was looking forward to work with United’s minority owners.

‘I’m looking forward to the talks with them,’ he said.

‘In other [football] clubs, they have experience, in other sports, they have a lot of knowledge so I’m really looking forward to [seeing] how they can contribute and I’m sure they can.

‘Football is a very complicated sport, especially at the top, so I’m sure they will contribute. They will help us to achieve our high ambitions.’

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