Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s sweeping changes at Manchester United continue, with the club’s medical department now being overhauled, with two long-serving senior physios set to depart, according to the Daily Mail.
Richard Merrin and John Devine are set to leave the club as part of an ongoing overhaul of the medical department at Old Trafford. Merrin has been at the club since 1997 and took up his current position in 2017, often seen rushing onto the pitch to treat injured players during games. Devine has also been employed in the medical department since June 1997. The latest changes are the latest in a series of shake-ups under Dr. Steve McClaren, who joined as Head of Sports Medicine in September last year from Arsenal.
It’s been a period of significant change within the club’s medical department. Jordan Reaves followed McClaren from Arsenal to Old Trafford, taking over from Robin Sadler as head physio. Colin has also moved from the women’s side to play a key role in the first team, while Hoff has left his role as a physiotherapist with the youth teams.
It is understood that the departures of Merrin and Devine are not related to any personal failings and are part of a wider restructure of the medical department, but the news has come as a surprise to some staff at United.
Changes are continuing across Carrington under the stewardship of the Ineos Group. A £50million revamp of the training ground is being planned, fulfilling a promise made by Ratcliffe when he invested £1.3billion for a 27.7% stake in the club last Christmas. In terms of personnel, new assistant managers Ruud van Nistelrooy and Steve McClaren alongside new goalkeeping coach Benni McCarthy have already started work at the club, joining manager Erik ten Hag for the first day of pre-season training on Monday.
Assistant coach Mitchell van der Gaag and goalkeeping coach Richard Hartis have both left the club after three seasons working with Ten Hag at both United and Ajax. Meanwhile, veteran coach Steve McClaren is expected to take on a new position. New CEO Richard Arnold is also set to start work this week, alongside director of football John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher.
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