Sir Dave Brailsford is set to scale back his involvement with Manchester United, returning to a broader role within the INEOS group. This move comes as Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who acquired a minority stake in the club in February 2024, initiates a reshuffle of the club's hierarchy after a dismal season.

Brailsford, who stepped down as team principal of the INEOS Grenadiers cycling team to dedicate his efforts to Manchester United, will now transition to the position of director of sport for the wider INEOS group. This encompasses oversight of other sporting ventures, including Ligue 1 side OGC Nice and involvement with the Mercedes AMG F1 Team.

The decision is intended to empower the existing leadership structure at Manchester United, giving more autonomy to chief executive Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox. Wilcox is expected to be appointed as the director of football, tasked with the responsibility of overhauling the squad.

Despite Manchester United's disappointing performance, finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham, Ratcliffe has acknowledged Brailsford's contribution to the club. Brailsford is credited with overhauling the performance setup, leading a £50 million redevelopment of the Carrington training ground, and developing plans for a 21st league title and a first championship for the women's team. He also played a key role in the due diligence phase of INEOS' investment in the club.

Brailsford's return to INEOS allows him to focus on a wider range of sporting interests. Previously, OGC Nice was managed by a "blind trust" due to both clubs potentially participating in UEFA competitions. However, Manchester United's failure to qualify for Europe has brought Nice back under the INEOS umbrella, which Brailsford will now oversee.

This reshuffle also sees former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas expected to take on a leadership role within the INEOS Grenadiers cycling team upon his retirement from cycling in September.

Since acquiring a stake in Manchester United, Ratcliffe's INEOS has implemented cost-cutting measures, including staff redundancies and benefit reductions. Ratcliffe has also scaled back some of INEOS' sporting commitments, terminating its sponsorship of the New Zealand rugby team and ending his bid to win the America's Cup. However, he remains committed to the cycling team.

Brailsford's influence at Manchester United has been notable, with his presence frequently observed in the directors' box and his involvement in football operations. The new regime has also overseen staff redundancies and cost-cutting initiatives. Brailsford is known for the "marginal gains" concept, which he applied to British cycling, achieving unprecedented success at the Olympic Games. The principle revolves around breaking down every aspect of performance and improving each element by one percent, resulting in significant overall gains.