Sir Jim Ratcliffe has just sent Erik ten Hag sack message to Dan Ashworth at Manchester United

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, for avoidance of doubt, has made it clear that he is not the one responsible for making a sack decision on Erik ten Hag.

“At the end of the day it’s not my call, it’s the management team that’s running Manchester United that have to decide how we best run the team in many different respects,” the sun-swept billionaire told the BBC in Barcelona.

He was speaking after witnessing a Great Britain sailing team qualify for the America's Cup - the oldest competition in world sport - for the first time in 60 years thanks to his bankrolling of Ineos Britannia. Meanwhile, 1,100 miles away in Manchester, many feel Ten Hag is sailing close to the wind.

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The United boss was urged to jump ship by a lifelong friend after winning the FA Cup in May but he refused to resign. Now he could be forced to walk the plank anyway by the new club board amid pressure to change skipper.

Ten Hag risks plunging into the international break on a five-game winless run should United fail to win at Villa Park, which will be bouncing after seeing Aston Villa defeat Bayern Munich in the midweek Champions League clash.

An adverse result will see increased calls for the board to make a decision on his future, just four months after it handed the Dutchman a one-year extension following the failed hunt for a successor. However, Ratcliffe has sent a clear message to the new hierarchy.

“I like Erik,” he said, rating him as a “very good coach”. Ratcliffe later continued: “[The board] team that’s running United has only been together since June or