Patrick Stewart to take Manchester United chief executive role when Richard Arnold departs

When Richard Arnold steps down as Manchester United’s chief executive at the end of the year, Patrick Stewart will be taking over the interim role, according to a report from The Athletic.

Arnold is expected to leave due to the anticipated arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the potential new 25% stakeholder in the club, and his £1.3 billion investment offer. Although the investment is not yet confirmed, a wider restructuring is expected to take place.

Stewart, the club’s legal counsel and board member, will assume the interim role to ensure the club remains stable during this transitional period. He intends to support the search for a new permanent CEO and oversee the day-to-day operations.

United’s board member, Jean-Claude Blanc, is a frontrunner to replace Arnold on a permanent basis, bringing with him a wealth of experience from his previous roles at Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain within the INEOS Sport portfolio.

Arnold has played a significant role in the club’s commercial growth and efforts to improve community relations. However, his departure is imminent due to disagreements within the board over Ratcliffe’s previous proposals and other differences that led to friction.

Following Arnold’s announcement, executive co-chairman, Joel Glazer, expressed gratitude for Arnold’s dedicated service spanning 16 years. Other anticipated changes include Sir David Brailsford joining the club in a significant role, and the potential appointment of a sporting director.

Despite recent challenges, The Athletic reported that the club plans to embark on a search for a new permanent CEO and make further changes after Ratcliffe’s minority stake is finalized.

With an unclear future for the club, the appointment of an interim CEO and potential structural changes have raised questions about the team’s stability and future direction.

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Michael Johnson

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