Did Manchester United fire Dan Ashworth? Full details as sporting director leaves Old Trafford

Sporting director Dan Ashworth has left Manchester United just five months after joining from Premier League rivals Newcastle United.

Dan Ashworth joined Manchester United from Newcastle United in the summer as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s revamp of the club’s upper management.

A long ordeal with Newcastle saw the Englishman serve six months of gardening leave. United paid around £3 million in compensation due to his early departure from the Northern side earlier this year.

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However, just five months later, the club ditched the man they had fought hard to get, as claimed by The Athletic.

The report states that Ashworth has departed the club following the side’s 3-2 loss against Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening.

Was Ashworth fired?

Although the article explains that the final decision was a “mutual” agreement, there are hints within the piece that it was an outcome the club desired.

While the 53-year-old was not outright fired from his job, it’s stated in the report that the club “instigated the separation” between them and Ashworth, with a final agreement coming between him and CEO Omar Berrada on Saturday evening.

The Athletic describe that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who was instrumental in Ashworth’s appointment, was “pivotal” in the decision being taken, with the five months at United being described as “difficult”.

“Dan Ashworth is clearly one of the top sporting directors in the world,” Ratcliffe said in Feburary. “I have no doubt he is a very capable person. He is interested in Manchester United because it’s the biggest challenge at the biggest club in the world.

“It would be different at City because you’re maintaining a level. Here it’s a significant rebuilding job. He would be a very good addition.”

It’s expected that United will now commence an operation to find a suitable replacement for Ashworth.

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