Jason Wilcox issues ultimatum

Before the current storm at Old Trafford, Jason Wilcox was brought in to be the structural architect of a new era.

A Premier League winner with Blackburn in 1995, Wilcox arrived in April 2024 from Southampton with a reputation for elite talent development, having previously spent over a decade as Manchester City’s Academy Director.

He was the hand-picked choice of CEO Omar Berrada, his former colleague at the Etihad, to lead United’s technical rebuild.

Originally appointed as Technical Director, Wilcox was promoted to Director of Football in June 2025, assuming full control over the club’s football operations—from recruitment to the medical department.

While his arrival was meant to signal stability, his relationship with Ruben Amorim proved to be the project’s Achilles’ heel.

Initially, Wilcox was seen as Amorim’s primary supporter, but the bond shattered over a fundamental power struggle.

Tensions boiled over when Wilcox reportedly suggested that his own role was “managerial” in scope while Amorim was merely the “coach.”

This friction, combined with Amorim’s frustration over a lack of January transfer backing, led to the manager’s dramatic exit on January 5, 2026.

Despite Amorim leading United to a Europa League final and over £250 million in investment, the club felt the evolution had stalled.

Now, as the club hunts for its next leader, Wilcox has stepped into the dressing room to set the tone for the remainder of the season.

The Director of Football addressed the squad following Amorim’s dismissal, candidly labelling the season “disappointing” thus far, according to The Sun.

However, his primary objective was to rally the players, insisting that a Champions League berth remains within their grasp.

United is currently tied for sixth place with 32 points, and with the likelihood of a fifth-place finish securing elite European football next season, the message was clear: the season is far from over.

The squad appears receptive to the change, with many believing a managerial shift had been inevitable since the chaotic 4-4 draw with Bournemouth on December 15.

That fixture reportedly served as a psychological breaking point for Amorim, whose demeanour at the Carrington training ground shifted from focused to detached in the weeks that followed.