Dan Ashworth is “the real deal” and will help transform Newcastle United into an efficiently-run club. That is according to SussexLive’s Brighton reporter Richie Mills, who provided ChronicleLive with the lowdown on what to expect from the Magpies’ new sporting director.
The worst-kept secret in football was confirmed on Monday when the former Seagulls supremo was officially announced in his new post. Ashworth - who also had a successful six-year stint at the FA - had been on gardening leave after resigning from his Brighton post in February.
While Newcastle fans are ecstatic to have their man in place ahead of a busy transfer window, those on the South Coast could understandably feel aggrieved. However, Richie states the feeling of disappointment was short-lived as the cogs at Brighton continue to turn smoothly.
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“If you listen to the Brighton owner, Tony Bloom, he was extremely disappointed,” he told ChronicleLive. “The number of people who think he is the real deal is a very long list.
“Generally, the feeling from the fans is more like they understand it. Most are disappointed he is going but there is such a good setup at Brighton they can survive without him and Graham Potter has said something along those lines.”
Unity within the camp and ensuring everybody is singing from the same hymn sheet is a far cry from what Newcastle supporters have endured before last month’s £300million Saudi-backed takeover. The youth academy, too, was another area neglected by Mike Ashley’s regime, but that could be about to change. The Seagulls reporter spoke of how Ashworth stamped his mark upon arrival at the Amex Stadium four years ago.
“When he arrived in 2018, he came in and made a well-run club even more efficient,” Richie added. “He was the hub of the wheel. There were several different spokes on the wheel, but he wanted to make everyone work together in a streamlined way and not in a hierarchical structure.
“It didn't seem like he was ‘’me, me, me’... it was a team effort. He aligned the departments. Something he was passionate about was opening up pathways for young players. At Brighton, they had this target in the 2021-22 season where they wanted 30% of minutes to go to academy players in the Premier League, and they achieved that.
Top of the agenda on day one will be transfer activity. As sporting director, Ashworth will be thrown into the deep end as Newcastle embark on their most exciting summer for a generation.
Richie believes a bottomless pit of wealth will not negate Ashworth’s enthusiasm to discover a “hidden gem” but admits there is intrigue now he has money to spend. At Brighton, the former FA chief had a talent for spotting bargains like Tariq Lamptey - a trait he now brings to Tyneside.
“Something he did very well at Brighton was finding hidden gems on the cheap and then, in seasons to come, they are worth millions,” Richie said. “He may look to find bargains despite the fact Newcastle are worth £250billion.
“But I don't think they (Newcastle owners) are going to be made fools of, they're not going to overpay just because the funds are there. The success rate since Ashworth has come in has been more hit and miss and that will probably be the case for Newcastle as well.
“It’ll be interesting to see how he adapts to the budget but I’m sure he will do a good job.”
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