Dan Ashworth is to leave his role as Manchester United’s sporting director after five months.
The club recruited Ashworth to much fanfare and expense from Newcastle but has come to a mutual agreement to part ways. Talks were held between Ashworth and the chief executive, Omar Berrada, after the defeat to Nottingham Forest which left United in 13th in the league, before Sir Jim Ratcliffe signed off on his departure.
“Dan Ashworth will be leaving his role as sporting director of Manchester United by mutual agreement,” read a club 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 a key target for the new regime under minority owner Ratcliffe and paid Newcastle a seven-figure compensation fee to secure his services. The former Football Association technical director was given the remit to oversee performance and recruitment at United but saw through only one transfer window where £200m was spent on a number of signings, including Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs De Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte.
The 53-year-old arrived with huge expectations after his work at Brighton, the FA and Newcastle but the reality of the situation United find themselves in has made it a struggle to replicate that success.
Ashworth had reservations about switching to new head coach Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation as wanted a consistent style, regardless of whom was in the dugout, to aid with long-term recruitment strategy.
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