Dan Ashworth Leaves His Post as Manchester United’s Sporting Director After Only 5 Months In-Charge

Following their disappointing 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forrest, Dan Ashworth vacated his position as Manchester United’s sporting Director. This decision comes as a shock because the Englishman took the role just five months earlier.

The 53-year-old arrived at Old Trafford with much fanfare, as the Red Devils had to pay a settlement to Newcastle United in order to acquire Ashworth’s services. He, along with CEO Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox, was seen as a vital cog of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s revamped front office. However, just five months into his tenure, Ashworth and United have parted ways “mutually.” The club released a statement which 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.” 

Reports suggest that Dan Ashworth’s stint at Manchester United didn’t go as planned, with his departure coming swiftly after United’s 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest. Ashworth was in attendance at Old Trafford for that game. According to The Athletic, tensions began to rise when Ashworth couldn’t deliver a “compelling” recommendation for Erik ten Hag’s successor. His proposed shortlist leaned heavily on Premier League experience, with names like Eddie Howe, Marco Silva, and Thomas Frank leading the way. Former Chelsea boss Graham Potter was also mentioned, but Ashworth’s indecisiveness reportedly didn’t sit well with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who was looking for clarity and conviction in leadership decisions. Ashworth’s lack of firm direction reportedly added to the friction, especially as his influence appeared limited in the appointment of Ruben Amorim as United’s new head coach. The Athletic states that, “Ashworth was said to have had little input on selecting Amorim as United’s new head coach, with Berrada a major influence on the Portuguese getting the job.” 

Dan Ashworth only oversaw one transfer window during his tenure at Old Trafford. The 53-year-old played a key role in bringing five players in the summer, with the likes of Noussair Mazraoui, Mattijs De Ligt, Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro arriving for combined fees of more than £180 million ($229.3m). Following his exit, it’s expected that CEO Omar Berrada will now take the reins on all transfer-related matters for the foreseeable future. As for Ashworth, his phone won’t stay quiet for long. Widely regarded as one of the best directors in English football, he’s bound to attract plenty of attention from other clubs. Arsenal, in particular, could now see Ashworth as a prime candidate. With Edu Gasper leaving his role as the Gunners' director, Arsenal finds itself on the hunt for a new leader to oversee their transfer strategy. Ashworth’s sudden departure from Manchester United could prove to be the perfect opportunity for the North London club to bring in the experienced and savvy director to strengthen their operations. 

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