Manchester United's players have been told of Erik ten Hag's imminent appointment as their new boss as the restructure ahead of his arrival got underway.
United's players were informed Ajax boss Ten Hag will become the club's new permanent manager, with a formal announcement expected after Saturday's Premier League trip to Arsenal. Tuesday's humiliating 4-0 defeat away to arch-rivals Liverpool underlined the scale of the task ahead of Ten Hag and the rebuilding job the 52-year-old Dutchman faces at United.
That has already begun with the jettisoning of United's top scouts, ahead of a radical overhaul of the scouting structure at the club in a bid to address the club's poor player recruitment in recent years. United's chief scout, Jim Lawlor, and Marcel Bout, head of global scouting, have both left the club.
Northern Ireland-born Lawlor joined United in 2005 under Sir Alex Ferguson and was promoted to chief scout in 2014. Dutchman Bout came in under compatriot and former United boss Louis van Gaal, initially as a coach, before moving into a scouting role.
United released a statement that said: "Jim Lawlor has decided to step down from his role as chief scout in the summer after 16 years with the club. During that time, Jim played a key role in the development of multiple trophy-winning Manchester United teams and was an important source of guidance to Sir Alex Ferguson and each of the managers who have followed him.
"Jim leaves the club with our warmest thanks for his significant contribution and our very best wishes for the future. Marcel Bout has departed from his role as head of global scouting after eight years with the club.
Have Your Say! Is Erik ten Hag the right fit for Man Utd? Join the debate here.
"A respected figure within and outside of Manchester United, Marcel has played an important part as an assistant coach and in the strengthening of our scouting capabilities in recent years. Marcel leaves the club with our warmest thanks for his significant contribution and our very best wishes for the future."
Football director John Murtough, along with technical director Darren Fletcher, is overseeing significant change with regard to the football structure at United, ahead of Ten Hag's arrival.
