Dan Ashworth leaves Man United sporting director post just five months after taking the position in the summer.
Dan Ashworth has left his position as Manchester United’s sporting director after only five months at the club.
After great hype and expenditure, Manchester United signed Ashworth from Newcastle, but they have decided to separate ways. Following United’s 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, which dropped them to 13th place in the Premier League. Ashworth spoke with Omar Berrada, the company’s chief executive. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a co-owner, approved the 53-year-old’s resignation.
When it became apparent that the appointment was not benefiting either party. Ashworth felt devalued by the ownership and left out of what he saw to be important procedures. Although the staff was caught aback by the decision, the key players at Old Trafford have been discussing Ashworth’s job for several weeks. It quickly became clear that things were not going as planned, and on Sunday the sporting director’s departure was confirmed.
“Dan Ashworth will be leaving his role as sporting director of Manchester United by mutual agreement,” a club statement said. “We would like to thank Dan for his work and support during a transitional period for the club and wish him well for the future.”
Ineos has made several structural changes at United since announcing its stake in the team last year. Sir Dave Brailsford, a crucial Ratcliffe lieutenant, has played a significant role, and Berrada was enticed from Manchester City. Christopher Vivell, the director of recruitment, and Jason Wilcox, the technical director, joined Ashworth.
The new regime gave Newcastle a seven-figure settlement sum since Ashworth was a major target. Before Ashworth began working at United, Newcastle had put him on gardening leave until an agreement was reached between the two teams that would allow him to begin work on July 1st instead of serving out a possible 18-month notice term.
After his work at Brighton, the Football Association, and Newcastle. Ashworth came with high hopes, but given the current state of United, it has been difficult to duplicate that success.
Despite a disappointing eighth-place Premier League performance and group-stage elimination from the Champions League the previous season, Ashworth was a part of the hierarchy that decided to retain Erik ten Hag as manager and extend his contract after the FA Cup victory. Ten Hag was eventually fired in October after failing to improve the situation.
As the team searches for the ideal formula at a time of transition under Ratcliffe. It is unknown if United will look to replace Ashworth externally or reorganise the current hierarchy with those already in place.