Manchester United formally confirm Sir Dave Brailsford departure from club board

Sir Dave Brailsford has left his position on Manchester United’s board of directors, formalising his exit from the Old Trafford club.

Brailsford relinquished his day-to-day role at United last summer and returned to acting as director of sport for INEOS, focusing on Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Grenadiers cycling team.

The 62-year-old had remained on United’s football club board, alongside the six Glazer siblings, former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and ex-chief executive David Gill.

According to a filing at Companies House, however, Brailsford’s role as a director was terminated on April 30. He will be replaced on the board by Rob Nevin, the chairman of INEOS Sport.

Brailsford was appointed to the board once Ratcliffe’s minority stake was confirmed in December 2023 alongside INEOS Sport chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc. Blanc stepped away from his role on the board last year.

United’s football board of directors is separate from the board of United’s New York Stock Exchange-listed parent company, which includes Nevin and fellow INEOS figure John Reece.

United’s football board of directors is separate from the board of United’s New York Stock Exchange-listed parent company, which includes INEOS figures John Reece and Rob Nevin.

Brailsford was a prominent figure at United during the first months following Ratcliffe’s purchase of a minority stake, playing a key role in the appointments of chief executive Omar Berrada, former sporting director Dan Ashworth and now-director of football Jason Wilcox.

The former British Cycling and Team Sky chief was also influential on the renovation of the men’s training facility at Carrington and led a series of target-setting “missions” with the aim of restoring United to former glories.

Brailsford initiated “Mission 21”, targeting a 21st league title, and “Mission 1” to win first Women’s Super League, both part of “Project 150” programme to mark the club’s 150th anniversary in 2028.