Some Manchester United staff have been left “bemused” as Sir Jim Ratcliffe issued them with an ultimatum in a recent meeting, according to a new report.

Ratcliffe has only been in-situ as a minority shareholder in United since late February but is in the process of instigating sweeping structural changes behind the scenes.

The billionaire, whose wealth was earned in the chemicals industry, has instigated a boardroom reshuffle since he bought 27.7 per cent of the club from the Glazer family in a deal worth £1.3billion.

Most recently, he hired ex-Juventus powerbroker Jean-Claude Blanc as interim CEO until Man City’s Omar Berrada fills the position permanently in July, as well as naming a new chief financial office in Roger Bell.

In the sporting department, United remain in pursuit of outgoing Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth, while Jason Wilcox has already joined as technical director.

But none of the new recruits will be working from home as Ratcliffe has effectively banned remote working entirely, according to The Guardian on Tuesday.

At talks held at the club’s training complex, the 71-year-old reportedly told “bemused” staff: “If you don’t like it, please seek ­alternative employment.”

This is the latest in a slew of cultural changes he has enacted at Manchester United – and there are more to come.

What is Ratcliffe trying to build at Man United?

Efficiency appears to be the name of the game for Ratcliffe.

He has reportedly pointed to data at his chemicals company INEOS that showed a drop-off in email rates when employees worked from home as justification for his decision to ban remote working at United.

The effectiveness of the decision itself can be challenged, but there is no doubt about the culture that Ratcliffe wants to instil.

The Manchester-born businessman has a reputation as one the toughest negotiators around and is keen to squeeze every penny from his investment in the club.

How can United increase revenue and efficiency?

Those close to internal operations routinely state that United’s marketing department claims the club have 1 billion supporters worldwide.

And while that figure is highly debatable, Ratcliffe sees a huge cultural and commercial institution which is underperforming relative to its enormous fanbase.

Their annual revenues from sponsorship, merchandising and other commercial streams stood at £303m at the last count, which was a record for the club but still some way behind Man City’s total of £341m.

Given that United had a 20-year head start on City when football’s commercialisation arms race began at the advent of the Premier League in 1992, that is a deficit that Ratcliffe will be desperate to address.

The new stadium plans are another way of tapping into the club’s huge earning potential, but that will take years to bear fruit.

Therefore, it is all the more likely that it will be a summer of cost-cutting in the sporting department as Ratcliffe looks to shed high earners, as well as finding a potential replacement for manager Erik ten Hag.

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