Richard Arnold to leave Manchester United ahead of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's minority purchase
Manchester United chief executive Richard Arnold is leaving Old Trafford, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe prepares to finalise his purchase of a 25 per cent stake in the club.
A takeover from Ratcliffe’s INEOS Group is expected to be ratified during the international break.
Arnold has been at United since 2007 and replaced Ed Woodward as CEO last year.
United are expected to announce that the 52-year-old is to step down by the end of the year.
In a boardroom shake-up at Old Trafford, Arnold will be replaced as interim chief executive by Patrick Stewart.
Stewart is thought to have acted as the club's representation at recent Premier League and European Clubs' Association meetings.
Ratcliffe's group are expected to pay around £1.25bn for their minority purchase and it is believed they will acquire significant control of football operations.
It is almost a year since the Glazer family announced they were considering "strategic alternatives" to help the club grow, including a potential sale.
Both Ratcliffe and Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani made offers in the region of £5bn for a complete takeover but they some way short of the Glazer family's valuation.
Sheikh Jassim then withdrew from the process last month.
