Richard Arnold Makes His First Appointment As Manchester United Chief

Richard Arnold took over the reins at Manchester United from Ed Woodward on February 1, and has now made his first appointment as the club’s chief executive.

Arnold has appointed Rick McGagh, currently a member of the club’s Fans’ Forum, as United’s head of fan engagement – a role introduced for the first time at Old Trafford.

McGagh will join in April with an aim to ensure that fans’ interests “are embedded in the club’s decision-making processes,” the statement on United’s website said.

United are also working to find a deputy football director to help football director John Murtough. According to The Athletic, the recruitment process is already at interview stage, with a number of options being spoken to.

Arnold is walking into a crucial summer where his biggest task will be to find the right manager to bring silverware and stability at the Theatre of Dreams. Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino are understood to be the leading contenders for the United job.

Further, the 51-year-old will also need to address reinforcements of several positions in the United squad in the upcoming transfer window.

It will be interesting to see just how much say the footballing minds at the club, such as Ralf Rangnick and Darren Fletcher, will have in these decisions.