MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United's soccer operations are undergoing yet more change with one of its key figures Dave Brailsford scaling back his role with the troubled club, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the information has not been made public.
Brailsford, who was credited for his role in British cycling's spectacular Olympic success in recent years, was a key component of billionaire Jim Ratcliffe's United overhaul following his minority investment in the club last year.
But things haven't gone to plan, with the 20-time English champion suffering its lowest finish in the Premier League era last season — 15th — and recording its lowest points total and highest number of losses.
Brailsford, who is also sporting director for Ratcliffe's petrochemicals firm INEOS, will remain in that role and also as a United director. However his day-to-day involvement will be reduced, the person said.
It is the latest in a slew of changes at United over the past year since Ratcliffe paid $1.3 billion for an initial 25% stake in United, assumed control of its soccer operations from majority owners the Glazer family and vowed to bring the good times back.
In that time there have been high-profile hirings and firings, as well new lows on the field and job cuts.
Former manager Erik ten Hag went in October — just three months after being handed a one-year contract extension.
Director of football Dan Ashworth left the club less than six months into the job and following lengthy negotiations to pry him away from Newcastle.
Omar Berrada was lured from Manchester City to become CEO and Jason Wilcox, formerly director of City’s academy, became technical director.
They remain in position as two key members of the leadership team above coach Ruben Amorim.
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Sky team manager Sir Dave Brailsford attends a training near Saint-Mars-la-Reorthe, France, Friday, July 6, 2018, ahead of Saturday's start of the Tour de France cycling race. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
HELSINKI (AP) — Thousands of tourists were stranded in northern Finland on Sunday after flights at Kittilä airport were canceled due to severe cold.
The temperature at the airport dropped to minus 37 degrees Celsius (34.6 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sunday morning, after several days of similar frigid weather, making de-icing of aircraft and other operations difficult, Finland's national public broadcaster Yle reported.
The deep freeze is expected to continue in Kittilä, which is located in Finnish Lapland in the sparsely populated north, on Monday, when the Finnish Meteorological Institute predicts temperatures of almost minus 40 C (minus 40 F).
Finns are generally used to frosty winter temperatures but this year's cold, which has affected wide regions of northern, central and eastern Europe, is more severe than in other years.
Heavy snowfall, high winds and icy roads have made travel difficult in parts of Europe.
In Germany, train passengers were still experiencing long delays and cancellations Sunday after rail operator Deutsche Bahn shut down all service in the north of the country on Friday due to strong snowfall.
Authorities announced that all schools would remain closed and switch to online classes on Monday in North Rhine-Westphalia, the country's most populous western state, after forecasts of icy roads across the region.
In the Baltic countries of Estonia and Lithuania, drivers were asked to postpone all nonessential travel because of expected blizzards, while neighboring Latvia issued a snow alert for the west of the country.
People ski and sled on a hill with the last call ski lift in Oberreifenberg in the Taunus region near Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A NordWestBahn train stands on a track at the main station in freezing temperatures, in Oldenburg, Germany, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Hauke-Christian Dittrich/dpa via AP)
A person walks past a digital display showing a temperature of minus 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) in Ylläs, Finland, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Satu Renko/Lehtikuva via AP)
Athletes ski despite the severe frost at the Puijo Ski Stadium in Kuopio, Finland, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Matias Honkamaa/Lehtikuva via AP)
People walk in freezing temperatures in Ylläs, Finland, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Satu Renko/Lehtikuva via AP)
