December 9 – In a move that stunned Manchester United fans as well as the football world at large, United sporting director Dan Ashworth is leaving the club just five months after taking over the role as part of an overhaul by minority owner Jim Ratcliffe.
Ashworth’s exit after an apparent boardroom clash was reportedly agreed after Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.
He officially joined the club on July 1 after spending five months on gardening leave at Newcastle and his appointment was seen as a major coup among sweeping changes to United’s sporting structure
Although a statement claimed Ashworth left “by mutual agreement” reports suggest his exit came after significant tensions over the return of a near £200 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 and Man Utd sit 13th in the Premier League having sacked Erik ten Hag in October, just four months after extending the Dutchman’s contract.
New manager Ruben Amorim has not had an immediate impact with just one win from his first four Premier League matches.
“Dan Ashworth will be leaving his role as sporting director of Manchester United by mutual agreement,” the club said in a statement.
“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.”
Ashworth was previously credited for implementing a structure at the English FA 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 but Ratcliffe, founder of petrochemicals giant INEOS, said in a fanzine interview last week that “difficult and unpopular decisions” needed to be made.
Some reports claimed Ashworth was against Amorim replacing ten Hag, saying he favoured alternative candidates for the managerial position. The appointment of Amorim was apparently driven by Man Utd chief executive Omar Berrada.
When Ratcliffe assumed control by buying a minority share in the club from U.S. owner the Glazer family, he set himself a bold target of returning United to the summit of the game. But perhaps not this season with United still enduring troubled times on and off the field.
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