Manchester United and sporting director Dan Ashworth have parted ways after just five months, with the Premier League team confirming the 53-year-old’s departure on Sunday. Ashworth, who spent five months on garden leave from Newcastle United before moving to Old Trafford, only joined the Red Devils in early July.
United, who recently appointed Ruben Amorim to replace Erik ten Hag as head coach, described the move as a ‘mutual agreement’. The decision is understood to have been made following United’s 3-2 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, which left the team in 13th place in the Premier League.
“Dan Ashworth will step down from his role as sporting director of Manchester United by mutual agreement,” the club’s official statement said on Sunday. “We would like to thank Dan for his work and support during a transitional period for the club and wish him all the best for the future.”
Ashworth was present at Old Trafford and he was seen walking to a meeting through the press conference room after the game. The former Brighton and Hove Albion technical director cost United millions of dollars in a settlement with former club Newcastle United, which even prevented him from taking over before the summer.
He is a key part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s initial restructuring of United’s executive team, CEO Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox, and leaves after just one transfer window. The trio worked together to appoint Amorim from Sporting CP as Ten Hag’s successor, but Ashworth and the Portuguese tactician did not even work together for a full month in Manchester.
Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte, Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui all arrived this summer for a total of more than $229.3 million. Ten Hag was sacked for failing to build on the confidence shown to him to turn things around with those newcomers, and new Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy temporarily replaced his compatriot before Amorim arrived last month.
United currently sit 13th in the EPL standings with just 19 points, which is their lowest total after 15 games since 1986. Amorim’s side will travel to the Czech Republic this midweek to take on Viktoria Plzen in the UEFA Europa League ahead of in the Manchester Derby against bitter rivals City next Sunday. with Pep Guardiola’s men also in a bad way.