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Sir Dave Brailsford ‘steps back from Man Utd’ as Sir Jim Ratcliffe plans major reshuffle after disastrous season

  /  autty

SIR DAVE BRAILSFORD is set to step back in his role at Manchester United.

The move comes as part of a major reshuffle being planned by Ineos head honcho Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

According to The Times, Brailsford will be reducing his commitment to Man Utd and returning to his role as director of sport for Ineos.

Brailsford, famed for his so-called "marginal gains" ideology from cycling, stood down as team principal of Ineos Grenadiers when Ratcliffe purchased his minority stake in the Red Devils.

He then took charge of football operations at the club and has been in that role for a year trying to implement change at the club.

However, the season has been nothing short of a disaster after United finished a record-low 15th in the Premier League.

They will also be without European football for the first time in a decade next season after losing the Europa League final to Tottenham.

Despite this, Brailsford, 61, has been credited by British billionaire Ratcliffe in overhauling the performance set-up at Man Utd.

He was also heavily involved in the £50million redevelopment plan for the club's Carrington training ground and setting the goals outlined in Mission 21 to get both Man Utd men and women winning league titles.

The report adds that Geraint Thomas will be taking a senior leadership role at Ineos' professional cycling team when he retires as a rider at the end of this season.

Brailsford's step back comes at a time when Ineos is reducing its sporting commitments.

In the last few months alone, the petrochemicals giant has terminated its sponsorship deal with the All Blacks, cut an advertising deal with Spurs and ending the pursuit of sailing's America's Cup.

The Ineos Sport's team unit led by Brailsford - in a reduced capacity since joining Man Utd - will once again be managing United's sister club Nice after they failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Nice had been placed in a so-called "blind trust" agreement by Uefa to ensure there was no breach of the organisation's multi-club rules.

Man Utd have had plenty of upheaval in the senior management since Ineos took over.

Dan Ashworth was brought in to be the director of football but left after only five months in charge.

In addition, around 450 staff have been axed as part of sweeping cuts.

And this is not to mention the sacking of Erik ten Hag after initially backing him in their first summer running the club.