Dan Ashworth, the sporting director of Manchester United, has reportedly resigned after just five months in the role, causing a stir within the club. His sudden departure is especially surprising given his respected reputation and the significant responsibilities he took on at Old Trafford.
Ashworth officially joined the club on July 1 after a period of gardening leave from his previous role as technical director at Newcastle United. However, his time at Manchester United came to an abrupt end following a reportedly tense meeting with CEO Omar Berrada, which occurred shortly after the club’s disappointing loss to Nottingham Forest. There is speculation surrounding the reasons for his departure, with some sources suggesting that Sir Jim Ratcliffe, part-owner of the club, played a key role in the decision. While some reports indicate that the club initiated the departure, United has officially described it as a “mutual agreement.”
At 53, Ashworth brought extensive experience, overseeing football performance and recruitment. He reported directly to CEO Berrada and worked closely with Jason Wilcox, the club’s technical director, under a new leadership structure introduced by Ratcliffe. This restructuring aimed to modernize Manchester United’s operations.
During his brief tenure, Ashworth managed a major summer transfer window, with the club spending around £200 million on high-profile signings like Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, and Joshua Zirkzee. He was also involved in key decisions such as extending Erik ten Hag’s contract, though ironically, Ten Hag was dismissed just months later, raising concerns about the club’s strategic direction.
Ashworth’s arrival at Manchester United followed lengthy negotiations with Newcastle United, where he had been highly regarded as technical director. After expressing interest in joining United, the two clubs agreed on a compensation package of £2–3 million, far lower than Newcastle’s original demand of £20 million. His appointment was considered a significant coup for the club due to his strong reputation from previous roles at Brighton and the Football Association, where he was regarded as one of the best sporting directors in the industry.
Ratcliffe had praised Ashworth’s credentials, describing him as highly capable and emphasizing that the opportunity to help rebuild Manchester United was an attractive proposition for someone of Ashworth’s caliber. Despite these high expectations, their partnership has ended prematurely, leaving fans and pundits wondering what went wrong.
Ashworth’s departure coincides with Ratcliffe’s growing dissatisfaction with Manchester United’s operations. He recently criticized the club as “mediocre,” citing outdated recruitment and data analysis practices as major barriers to success. Ratcliffe emphasized the need for extensive reforms to bring the club back to its former glory, including improvements in analytics and recruitment to keep up with their rivals.
Following Ashworth’s exit, Manchester United faces another period of uncertainty. The sudden leadership void raises concerns about the club’s ability to address ongoing challenges, such as modernizing its infrastructure, strengthening the squad, and regaining its place among Europe’s elite football clubs. Whether this setback will spur the club into action or exacerbate its struggles remains to be seen, but Ashworth’s brief tenure will likely be remembered as a missed opportunity in Manchester United’s ongoing quest for success.
