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New details have emerged, detailing the events that led to Dan Ashworth’s shocking departure from Manchester United.
Earlier today, a bombshell report covered by The Peoples Person revealed that Ashworth has parted ways with United after just five months in charge.
United negotiated an agreement with their Premier League rivals, Newcastle United, to release Ashworth from his contract, paying approximately £3 million in compensation.
This marked the end of four-and-a-half months of negotiations, which began when United officially approached Newcastle regarding Ashworth in mid-February. Following United’s interest, Newcastle placed their sporting director on gardening leave after he requested to be released.
An official statement released by United on Sunday read, “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.”
It was recently suggested that the decision not to sack Erik ten Hag during the summer may have played a big role in Ratcliffe’s decision to axe Ashworth. It was stated that Ratcliffe was “furious” with Ashworth for insisting they stick with Ten Hag, who ended up being a failure.
Now, new information has come to light, regarding other things that unfolded behind the scenes. These include strained relations between Ashworth and other high-ranking executives and Ashworth’s desire to bring in an English manager as Ten Hag’s replacement.
talKSPORT journalist Alex Crook wrote on X, “Ashworth felt sidelined from the big decisions, almost from day one with Berrada and Brailsford calling the shots.”
“Tipping point was Amorim appointment. He favoured a British coach ie. Southgate. Also been told there was a clash of personalities.”
.@talkSPORT understands Ashworth felt sidelined from the big decisions, almost from day one with Berrada and Brailsford calling the shots. Tipping point was Amorim appointment. He favoured a British coach ie. Southgate. Also been told there was a clash of personalities.
— Alex Crook ⚽️🎙 (@alex_crook) December 8, 2024
Samuel Luckhurst of Manchester Evening News notes the same. Luckhurst wrote, “Dan Ashworth was not in favour of appointing Ruben Amorim as the new head coach of Manchester United.”
“Separate sources say Ashworth was not involved in the process of selecting Amorim and that he recommended a move for former England manager Gareth Southgate, with whom he worked at the Football Association between 2013-18.”
“Chief executive Omar Berrada spearheaded the approach for Amorim and convinced him to take over United mid-season amid interest from Manchester City to have him possibly replace Pep Guardiola in the summer.”
According to ESPN’s Mark Ogden, Ratcliffe and Ashworth did not see eye-to-eye.
Ogden explains, “One source has told ESPN that Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United’s minority owner and principle decision-maker, had quickly become unimpressed by Ashworth, believing he lacked the personality and skillset to do the job.”
“So, rather than allow an unsatisfactory situation to deteriorate, a decision was made to act now in a dramatic damage-limitation exercise. Sources said that relations between Ashworth and Ratcliffe had been “rocky” for weeks, but that the swiftness of the decision to part company on Sunday morning has surprised many at the club.”
Ogden claims that apart from the signing of Matthijs de Ligt – whose purchase was sanctioned by Ten Hag – the recruitment of Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte, Leny Yoro and Noussair Mazraoui were all driven by departments headed by Ashworth.
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