Keith Wyness, the former chief of Premier League club Everton, believes that Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe made a significant mistake at the club.
Wyness argues that Ratcliffe’s choice to allow manager Erik ten Hag to expand his backroom staff could prove costly for the club down the line.
After a period of uncertainty regarding Ten Hag’s future last summer, Manchester United decided to back the Dutch manager and retained him. Following this, they permitted him to add to his coaching team.
Ten Hag opted to bring in former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and Dutch manager Rene Hake as his assistants.
With a poor start to the current season, doubts have emerged about Ten Hag’s decisions, including his team selections and recruitment choices.
Wyness commented to Football Insider:
“It’s a significant Dutch contingent that he has assembled.
“That’s the fundamental error Jim Ratcliffe made. He allowed Ten Hag to build such a large staff even after discussions about his potential departure at the end of last season.
“This presents a challenge for Manchester United in how they manage this situation.
“It will be interesting to see how it unfolds. It could become another headache for them if changes are needed this season.”
Following their recent victory over Brentford, the Red Devils now sit in 11th place in the league table, trailing behind their rivals in the top four.
Ten Hag is facing difficulties in securing his position at Manchester United.
Despite the club’s support in the summer transfer market, Ten Hag has struggled to build on his FA Cup success from the previous season.
Manchester United has a history of making unexpected decisions, from player transfer fees to ending Sir Alex Ferguson’s role as club ambassador.
Giving Ten Hag full authority could have future repercussions.
The club has been linked with several top managers as potential replacements for the Dutchman, and the coming weeks will determine whether he retains his position or is let go.
Keith Wyness, former Everton CEO, recently critiqued Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe for allowing Erik ten Hag to expand his backroom staff despite uncertainties surrounding his future. Wyness argues that Ten Hag’s decision to bring in a large contingent of Dutch staff, including Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake, could complicate matters if the club needs to make managerial changes this season. With Manchester United’s poor start and inconsistent results, Wyness sees this as a potential issue, especially considering the club’s history of making unexpected decisions regarding management and player transfers. Ten Hag’s position remains precarious despite the backing he received during the summer transfer window.
