Jason Wilcox joins Manchester United as technical director with sporting director appointment to follow ‘in due course’

Jason Wilcox has been announced as Manchester United’s new technical director as Sir Jim Ratcliffe continues his shake-up.

The former Southampton chief left his post on the south coast earlier this month to pave the way for his move to United.

And the club have now confirmed that Wilcox has been appointed technical director with immediate effect.

A United statement read: “Jason Wilcox has joined Manchester United as technical director with immediate effect.

“He will work with all technical areas of the football department to achieve the highest standards of performance.

“Jason was previously director of football at Southampton and before that academy director at Manchester City. As a player he won the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers in 1995.”

The club’s new minority shareholder, Ratcliffe, was keen to act quickly to recruit his staff.

His INEOS group has taken over the Glazers’ football operations at Old Trafford.

A sporting director is also top of the wishlist, with Newcastle chief Dan Ashworth the main choice, who is on gardening leave after telling the Magpies he wants to leave.

United have already hired a new CEO, snatching Omar Berrada from local rivals Manchester City in a major coup.

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Wilcox only joined Southampton last summer but has an excellent reputation in the sport.

He spent 11 years at City, where he was academy director before becoming technical director.

The 53-year-old later joined Southampton, but felt United were too important a job to turn down.

“While the club is understandably disappointed that Jason’s stay at Southampton lasted only nine months, we wish him well for the future,” Southampton said in a statement.

“The club will continue to work closely with Russell Martin and his team behind the scenes to ensure they have all the support they need moving forward.”