Ralf Rangnick work permit delay explained and how long Man Utd must wait

Monday saw Manchester United announce that Ralf Rangnick has been confirmed as their new boss for the remainder of the season.

Rangnick's arrivals follows on from the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer earlier this month and he will remain at Old Trafford in a two-year 'consultancy' role following this campaign.

Yet Rangnick will not be in the dugout for Thursday night's visit of Arsenal due to a delay in processing his work permit and now is aiming to be in place for Crystal Palace's trip to Old Trafford on Sunday - although no date has yet been specified.

Caretaker boss Michael Carrick - who will stay on at the club in a senior coaching position under the German - oversaw the 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, following a 2-0 victory over Villarreal, and will remain in charge until Rangnick's arrival.

Rangnick has left his role as head of sports and development at Lokomotiv Moscow to take up the Old Trafford position and has managed just two seasons in the last decade.

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That time out of management is now counting against him as he and United wait for his work permit to be approved by an FA-appointed independent panel, as his recent lack of coaching means he does not meet the automatic criteria.

The German coach will now be assessed by the post-Brexit work permit process, which will then determine his criteria for taking the position.

Rangnick is now being assessed by an "Exceptions Panel" as he and United make the case for his exemption to work in the UK with a "Governing Body Endorsement" (GBE).

An automatic GBE would be granted if he met several criteria including having overall responsibility for the first-team squad, holding the relevant coaching license and has managed a club in a "top league" for a sufficient period of time - the latter point which is slowing down the process.

As Rangnick does not meet the above prescribed period of time in the past five years, then the "Exceptions Panel" must make a decision based on a selection of further criteria.

The time period that any incoming coach would have to make is to have managed a top level team for 24 consecutive months in the past five years, or a cumulative total of 36 months (three years).

Rangnick falls short of this - he has managed RB Leipzig for a combined total of 11 months in the 2018-2019 season, while occupying various Director of Football rules, which are not included in the criteria.

The independent three-person panel - a legal professional along with two figures from football - that will consider Rangnick's case will be appointed by the FA, although United will be able to challenge any of the appointments to that panel if they hold sincere objections that can be upheld.

The FA are working to their rules of only selecting those of the "highest calibre" who are "able to contribute significantly to the development of the game at the top level in England."

The FA are administering the process and they will subsequently make their recommendation to the Home Office, which means that the timeframe is expanded.

United have confirmed that Rangnick will not be in the dugout for Thursday's clash against Arsenal but the club remains hopeful the process could be finalised ahead of Sunday's visit of Crystal Palace.

Rangnick has been occupying himself by intensely watching United's training sessions and studying their matches this season.

Carrick will remain in the dugout until his successor's appointment is verified by the FA and Home Office.