Manchester United’s Sporting Director Dan Ashworth Departs Unexpectedly
In a surprising turn of events, Manchester United announced the departure of their sporting director, Dan Ashworth, just five months after he took on the role at Old Trafford.
The decision to part ways with Ashworth reportedly came following a disappointing 3-2 home loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, adding to the turmoil at the club.
Ashworth’s appointment was initially seen as a significant move in the midst of broader changes to the Red Devils’ sporting structure under the ownership of Jim Ratcliffe, who acquired a minority stake in the club in December 2023.
At 53 years old, Ashworth officially joined United on July 1 after a period of gardening leave from Newcastle, with the club actively pursuing his services during the transition.
However, tensions between Ashworth and Ratcliffe reportedly escalated over the lackluster on-field results, particularly in a summer transfer window where the club spent close to £200 million on new signings.
Despite big-name acquisitions such as Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, and Joshua Zirkzee, none of the new players made a significant impact on the team’s performance.
Currently sitting in 13th place in the Premier League table, United parted ways with manager Erik ten Hag in October, just four months after extending his contract, further highlighting the club’s struggles.
Newly appointed manager Ruben Amorim has had a challenging start, securing only one victory in his first four league matches at the helm.
United released a statement saying, “Dan Ashworth will be leaving his role as sporting director of Manchester United by mutual agreement. We would like to thank Dan for his efforts during a transitional period for the club and wish him all the best for the future.”
Source: Training Ground Guru
Known for his role in transforming the structure of the Football Association and contributing to the resurgence of the England national team, Ashworth also played a pivotal part in Brighton’s growth as an established Premier League side before his tenure at Newcastle.
United reportedly paid £3 million in compensation to secure Ashworth’s services, as part of a revamped leadership team including Jason Wilcox as technical director and Omar Berrada as CEO.
This departure marks another setback in Ratcliffe’s efforts to rejuvenate a club that has struggled to reclaim its former glory over the past decade. The billionaire owner of INEOS has been vocal about the need for “difficult and unpopular decisions” to propel the club forward.
Ratcliffe has faced criticism from fans over his decision to raise ticket prices to £66 per match without concessions for children or pensioners, further adding to the challenges facing Manchester United as they navigate a period of transition and change.
