Dan Ashworth has left his position as Manchester United’s sporting director after only five months at the club.
Manchester United recruited Ashworth from Newcastle to much fanfare and expense but they have come to a mutual agreement to part ways. Talks were held between Ashworth and the chief executive, Omar Berrada, after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat by Nottingham Forest, which left United 13th in the Premier League. The co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe signed off on the 53-year-old’s departure.
Ashworth felt undermined by the ownership and excluded from what he saw as key processes, as it became clear the appointment was working for neither party. The decision was met with surprise by staff but talks regarding Ashworth’s role have taken place over a number of weeks by the main stakeholders at Old Trafford. It soon became apparent that things were not working as planned, concluding with the confirmation of the sporting director’s exit on Sunday.
“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.”
Since Ineos announced its investment in United last year, it has made a number of structural changes at the club. Berrada was lured from Manchester City, while the key Ratcliffe lieutenant Sir Dave Brailsford has been an influential figure. Ashworth was joined by the technical director, Jason Wilcox, and the director of recruitment, Christopher Vivell.
Ashworth was a key target for the new regime, who paid Newcastle a seven-figure compensation fee. Prior to starting work at United, Ashworth had been placed on gardening leave by Newcastle until a settlement was made between the two clubs to allow him to start work on 1 July, rather than seeing out a potential 18-month notice period. Ashworth arrived amid huge expectations after his work at Brighton, the Football Association and Newcastle but the reality of the situation United find themselves in has made it a struggle to replicate that success.
The former FA technical director was given the remit to oversee performance and recruitment at United but saw through only one transfer window where £200m was spent on a number of signings, including Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte.
Ashworth was part of the hierarchy that agreed to keep Erik ten Hag as manager, and extend his contract, after winning the FA Cup despite a disappointing eighth-placed Premier League finish and group-stage elimination from the Champions League last season. Ten Hag failed to turn things around and was eventually dismissed in October.
Berrada travelled with Ashworth to Lisbon in order to sell the project of Manchester United to Ruben Amorim and persuade him to leave Sporting for England. Amorim said he “felt a connection” with Ashworth and his colleagues, adding “we want to do something special in the special club” when he was appointed as head coach last month.
Ashworth had reservations about switching to Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation as he wanted a consistent style, regardless of who was in the dugout, to aid with long-term recruitment strategy, which was a source of tension.
It is unclear if United will seek an external replacement for Ashworth or reorganise the current hierarchy with those already in situ as the club looks for the right formula amid a period of transition under Ratcliffe.
