Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth has left his role as Manchester United sporting director after just five months.
Ashworth officially joined Manchester United on July 1 after a lengthy period of gardening leave at former club Newcastle United, but the transition has not been smooth and his exit has been decided upon.
Ashworth’s exit was agreed in a meeting with chief executive Omar Berrada at Old Trafford after United’s Premier League game with Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been pivotal to the call to part ways, in a move that will stun staff at the club given Ashworth’s prominence in trying to reshape the club.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s stance on Dan Ashworth has taken a drastic turn.
In February, Ratcliffe praised Ashworth, saying: “I think Dan Ashworth is a 10/10 sporting director, one of the best around. He would be very good for Manchester United.
However, Ashworth’s departure in December followed a reported bust-up with Ratcliffe.
Today, Ratcliffe emphasized: “Manchester United must have the BEST recruitment in the world.”
He added: “You can’t just flick a light switch and sort out recruitment. It’s all about people, and we need to find the right ones.”
Ratcliffe’s comments imply that underperforming staff and players will be held accountable. As he suggests, when expectations aren’t met, it’s time to part ways – a principle that should also apply to underperforming players, of which there are many who need to be sold.
