Manchester United's first-team physios Richard Merron and John Davin are leaving the club as an overhaul of the medical department continues.
Merron, who has been with the club for 23 years and in his current role since 2017, was regularly seen running onto the pitch to treat United’s injured players. Davin has been on the staff since June 1997.
They are the latest in a series of changes since Gary O’Driscoll moved from Arsenal to become head of sports medicine last September and reshape the medical department.
In what was seen as another coup for the club, Jordan Reece followed O’Driscoll from Arsenal to Old Trafford to become head physio and replace Robin Sadler. Ibrahim Keren moved across from the women’s team and now plays a key role with the first-team, while Neil Hough left his physio’s position at the academy.
O’Driscoll has been working with Ineos sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford to get to the bottom of the fitness problems that plagued United last season, with Erik ten Hag’s side suffering nearly 70 separate cases of injury or illness.
However, it’s understood that no personal blame is being attached to Merron and Davin, and their departures are part of a wider restructuring of the medical department. Staff are said to be surprised by the news.
Changes are taking place across the training ground under Ineos, with Carrington about to undergo a £50m facelift using the additional £238m pledged by Sir Jim Ratcliffe when he invested £1.3billion to acquire 27.7 per cent of the club last Christmas.
On Monday, new assistants Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake arrived with new goalkeeper coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar to start work under Erik ten Hag on the first day of pre-season training.
Mitchell van der Gaag, Ten Hag’s No.2 for the last three seasons at United and Ajax, is leaving along with goalkeeper coach Richard Hartis, although Steve McClaren is expected to stay in a new role.
United are expected to confirm the reshuffle once Van Nistelrooy, Hake and Ten Rouwelaar are granted work permits.
Among the wider changes under Ineos, Ratcliffe has already stated his aim to turn Old Trafford into the ‘Wembley of the North’ by knocking it down and building next door or renovating the existing stadium.
The leadership structure has also been overhauled with new chief executive Omar Berrada – who begins work later this week – coming in alongside sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.
Last week, staff were told that up to 250 jobs will go as part of a drive to cut costs and improve efficiency.