Ex-Man United chief 'OPPOSED' plans from Sir Jim Ratcliffe to stop staff working from home... before leaving Old Trafford as part of the club's restructure

Manchester United's former interim chief executive reportedly opposed plans by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS to stop allowing staff to work from home. 

Reports suggested that Ratcliffe told United staff workers to come into the office or 'seek alternative employment'. 

The co-owner of the Red Devils wanted to abolish working from home as he looked to boost productivity levels behind the scenes, with the British billionaire aiming to transform the club from top to bottom, on and off the pitch. 

However, the measure wasn't popular with everybody, as it has been reported by the Athletic that former interim executive Patrick Stewart opposed the plans. 

Stewart was standing in for previous chief executive Richard Arnold, but like his predecessor, he ultimately fell casualty of the restructure by INEOS. 

Mail Sport reported in April that both Stewart and chief financial officer Cliff Baty were to stand down by mutual consent at the end of the 2023-24 season.

The Athletic's report meanwhile stated that those not prepared to adapt to INEOS' way of working normally move on with the message being: 'You're either in this and understand what the mission is or it's not for you.'

INEOS have a sceptical attitude to working from home, and are used to having 'open-plan offices, which are designed to encourage collaboration between colleagues'. 

It's also said Ratcliffe wasn't impressed that some staff were working on a 9/80 schedule - where staff would work 80 hours over nine working days and earn every other Friday off. 

Manchester United fly out to Los Angeles on Wednesday for a pre-season tour of the United States, at a time when redundancies are set to be made.

Employees were informed in a series of meetings on Tuesday which departments and individuals are under threat as part of a redundancy process that will result in up to 250 job cuts. 

It's understood that members of staff who are no longer going on tour because they are in danger of losing their jobs were given the news last week.  

United are said to be trying to handle a difficult situation with as much empathy as possible, which was the message when interim chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc spoke at an all-staff meeting earlier this month to confirm the 250 job cuts. 

But it is inevitable that the mood around United has been severely affected by the plans which could save up to £10m-a-year to invest in the football operation and infrastructure. 

Stewart joined United in 2006 and has been interim CEO since Arnold resigned in February, while Baty started work at Old Trafford in 2016. They were key figures in handling Ratcliffe's £1.3billion investment, and the Ineos owner paid tribute to both executives.

'I would like to personally thank both Patrick and Cliff for their support in helping us get to know the club and making us feel welcome and I respect their decisions to now move on as we establish a new management team for the club,' said Ratcliffe.