Manchester United have confirmed their decision to part ways with sporting director Dan Ashworth after just five months.
It was announced by the club on Sunday morning that the 53-year-old will be “leaving his role” effective immediately by “mutual agreement”.
Supporters on X were incredulous following INEOS’s decision to cut ties with Ashworth, who was brought in to transform the club’s football operations:
Shocking News, absolutely Stunning
— Rafi Satti (@SattiRafi) December 8, 2024
A year wasted
— Roller (@wrestleroller) December 8, 2024
Just shows how much of a shambles INEOS are
— Simple Economics (@simpleeconomic) December 8, 2024
Our club is in crisis mode
— Oz Ïo Ma🛐 (@Blessed_oz) December 8, 2024
We are doomed
— ANGEL TOPEDO (@ThoughtPillow) December 8, 2024
Just read he wanted to keep ETH. Enough said!
— Martin Thwaites🏴🇬🇧 (@mthwaites49) December 8, 2024
United are a mess
Some have already pointed out that Ashworth spent longer on gardening leave at Newcastle prior to his move to United than he spent in his role as sporting director.
It is believed that a clash between Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ashworth is the reason behind the latter’s departure from Old Trafford.
The Daily Mail report that Ratcliffe was “furious” that Ashworth insisted on keeping Erik ten Hag in charge in the summer. The Dutchman was then sacked and replaced by Ruben Amorim last month after an awful start to the season.
What will happen next?
It remains to be seen whether INEOS will look to replace Ashworth. Technical director Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada could take over the majority of the sporting director’s responsibilities if required.
The pair were effectively running things anyway prior to Ashworth’s arrival but the whole reason why he was brought in from Newcastle was to modernise the club’s operations.
With Ratcliffe seemingly taking more control, the worry is that he is taking power away from the experts that he hired in the first place to transform the club.
Find out who is in Manchester United’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here
