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Dan Ashworth has left his role as Manchester United’s sporting director after just five months, reports the reliable David Ornstein of The Athletic.
Following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s partial 27.7% investment into United earlier this year, the INEOS billionaire moved quickly in his bid to implement a “best-in-class” footballing structure that would lead the Red Devils into the next era.
As part of this structure, United secured the services of Ashworth as sporting director from Newcastle. It was not an easy acquisition as the Magpies were adamant they wanted around £20m in compensation to let their executive circumvent his notice period.
United made it clear they would not pay such a hefty amount for non-playing personnel. Eddie Howe’s side responded by placing Ashworth on immediate gardening leave. At some point, Ashworth threatened to take Newcastle to arbitration in a bid to unlock the tense situation.
However, in July, United finally managed to get their main man. Ashworth played a key role in the summer transfer window, in which the club brought in Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs De Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee in an outlay of around £200million.
Now, Ornstein reveals that Ashworth and United have mutually decided to part ways.
According to The Athletic journalist, “Dan Ashworth has left his role as Manchester United sporting director after just five months.”
“Ashworth officially joined United on July 1 after a lengthy period of gardening leave at former club Newcastle United, but the transition has not been smooth and his exit has been decided upon.”
“Ashworth’s departure was agreed in a meeting with chief executive Omar Berrada at Old Trafford after United’s Premier League game with Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening.”
“Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been pivotal to the call to part ways, in a move that will stun staff at United given Ashworth’s prominence in trying to reshape the club.”
Ornstein adds, “Multiple sources, speaking anonymously like others in this story to protect relationships, say United instigated the separation. The club say the final agreement to end Ashworth’s contract was mutual.”
“This is a hugely significant development that will cause reverberations at United. Ashworth was held up as an example of the new INEOS leadership getting best in class operators, so to concede it as a mistake less than half a year into the relationship strikes as embarrassing for all concerned.”
Ashworth reported to CEO Omar Berrada, who himself arrived in the summer from Premier League rivals Manchester City.
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