Dan Ashworth Leaves Manchester United After Five Months as Sporting Director

Dan Ashworth Leaves Manchester United After Five Months as Sporting Director
By Ben Southby
Updated 08/12/2024 at 10:50 GMT

Dan Ashworth has resigned from his position as Manchester United’s sporting director after a brief and turbulent five months in the role. His exit was finalized following a 3-2 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, a result that capped a disappointing start to the season for the 20-time English champions. The decision was reportedly made during an emergency meeting convened by United’s chief executive, Omar Berrada, according to The Athletic.

A High-Profile Appointment That Failed to Deliver

Ashworth, 53, joined Manchester United in July after a long negotiation process with Newcastle United. Initially, Newcastle demanded a hefty £20 million compensation package for Ashworth, who had been placed on gardening leave. Ultimately, United secured his services for a reported £3 million, marking what many considered a significant coup in their rebuilding efforts under new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Ashworth was expected to bring his expertise to a club grappling with instability both on and off the pitch. He was tasked with overseeing football performance, recruitment, and operations alongside technical director Jason Wilcox. Together, they formed the core of United’s new-look hierarchy, which aimed to restore the club’s former glory.

In a statement, the club acknowledged Ashworth’s contributions, saying:
“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.”

Summer Spending and Managerial Turmoil

During Ashworth’s brief tenure, United invested heavily in the transfer market, spending approximately £200 million on players such as Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, and Joshua Zirkzee. Ashworth was directly involved in these acquisitions, with his influence highlighted in each signing announcement.

Additionally, Ashworth played a pivotal role in persuading former manager Erik ten Hag to stay during a tumultuous summer. However, despite being handed a contract extension, Ten Hag was dismissed just three months into the new season after a string of poor results.

Ashworth’s replacement at the helm of football operations has yet to be announced, leaving questions about how United will navigate the remainder of the season.

A Season to Forget

United’s struggles on the pitch have compounded their administrative challenges. The club currently sits 13th in the Premier League, marking their worst start to a season in terms of points since the 1986/87 campaign. The defeat to Nottingham Forest was their sixth league loss of the season, following earlier setbacks against Arsenal, West Ham, Brighton, Tottenham, and Liverpool.

Ruben Amorim, appointed as Ten Hag’s successor, has struggled to steady the ship. The Portuguese manager has overseen consecutive defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, leaving the team in disarray. Following the loss to Forest, Amorim candidly admitted, “We have a problem. Manchester United is a massive club, but right now, we’re not a massive team.”

Despite high-profile signings and managerial changes, the club’s performance remains far below expectations. United’s summer acquisitions have yet to make a significant impact, and the team’s cohesion appears to be lacking, raising concerns among fans and analysts alike.

The Path Ahead

Ashworth’s departure adds to a growing list of challenges facing Manchester United under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ownership. Ratcliffe, alongside Sir Dave Brailsford, is spearheading efforts to modernize the club’s operations and restore competitiveness. However, with fan unrest mounting and results faltering, the task ahead is daunting.

As the January transfer window approaches, attention will likely turn to potential reinforcements and structural changes. Whether United can salvage their season and regain stability remains to be seen, but Ashworth’s departure underscores the scale of the task facing the club’s leadership.

For now, Manchester United find themselves at a crossroads, navigating one of the most challenging periods in their illustrious history.