Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth leaves after just five months
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Dan Ashworth’s exit was reportedly agreed after the 3-2 home defeat by Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League on Dec 7.
PHOTO: AFP
LONDON – Manchester United confirmed the shock departure of sporting director Dan Ashworth on Dec 8, just five months after he took up the role at Old Trafford.
His exit was reportedly agreed after the disappointing 3-2 home defeat by Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League on Dec 7.
His appointment was seen as a major coup among sweeping changes to the Red Devils’ sporting structure made since Jim Ratcliffe bought a minority share in the English giants in December 2023, though the deal was ratified only in February 2024.
Ashworth, 53, officially joined on July 1 after spending five months on gardening leave at Newcastle United as the 20-time English champions pursued their interest, with Ratcliffe then describing Ashworth as “one of the top sporting directors in the world”.
However, The Athletic reported tensions had emerged between Ashworth and Ratcliffe over the return on the field from a near £200 million (S$342 million) spending spree in the summer transfer window.
None of the new signings – Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee – have hit the ground running, though French defender Yoro made his debut only last week following a lengthy injury.
United also sacked Erik ten Hag in October, just four months after extending the Dutchman’s contract in which Ashworth played a pivotal role.
New boss Ruben Amorim has not had an immediate impact with just one win from his first four Premier League matches. United’s first loss to Forest at Old Trafford in nearly 30 years left them 13th in the table on 19 points, their lowest after 15 games since 1986.
“Dan Ashworth will be leaving his role as sporting director of Manchester United by mutual agreement. 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,” United said in a 41-word statement.
Ashworth was previously credited for implementing a structure at the Football Association that helped turn around the fortunes of the England national team. He was then part of Brighton’s development into an established Premier League club before joining Newcastle in 2022.
After extensive negotiations, United reportedly paid compensation of £3 million to bring Ashworth to Old Trafford. He joined a revamped leadership group with Jason Wilcox coming in as technical director and Omar Berrada installed as chief executive.
His exit comes as the latest major embarrassment to Ratcliffe’s overhaul of a club that has fallen on hard times over the past decade.
The British billionaire, who made his fortune as founder of petrochemicals giant Ineos, said the club had become “mediocre” in a fanzine interview this week and that “difficult and unpopular decisions” needed to be made.
Ratcliffe has also alienated fans after a controversial decision to raise ticket prices to £66 per match without concessions for children or pensioners.
United travel to face Czech side Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on Dec 12 before playing at champions Manchester City three days later. AFP, REUTERS