United are yet to confirm Ratcliffe’s proposed £1.3billion investment one that is set to see the British billionaire take sporting control

• but Arnold is set to depart as part of an anticipated wider restructure off the field.

Stewart, the Old Trafford club’s legal counsel and a member of the board, will take up the position on an interim basis having already had the day to day running of the club handed over to him.

Stewart is United’s most senior lawyer, responsible for managing the club’s legal and regulatory affairs and serves as an arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Jean-Claude Blanc, the former Juventus chief executive who left a high-ranking role at Paris Saint-Germain last December to oversee the entire INEOS Sport portfolio, is under consideration to replace Arnold on a permanent basis.

Arnold has been with United since 2007, rising to the role of chief executive following Woodward’s exit as executive vice-chairman.

Arnold was the public face of the decision to ultimately opt against Mason Greenwood returning to the first team this summer, but only after The Athletic reported he had communicated to the club’s leadership team the call had been made to bring him back earlier in August.