Richard Arnold jumped before he was pushed at Manchester United – but football director John Murtough is keen to work within the new set-up when Ineos start moving into Old Trafford next week.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's £1.25billion investment will be announced in a matter of days, paving the way for the petrochemicals tycoon and his right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford to take charge of football affairs at United once it is formally ratified next month.
Confidential understands that Ratcliffe did not ask Arnold to go, but the United CEO knew the writing was on the wall and decided to announce his decision to leave on his own terms before the end of the year, with Patrick Stewart to take over on an interim basis.