Ratcliffe’s Man Utd revolution faces tapping up charge after ‘embarrassing blunder’

Robin Bairner

• 22 May 2024 07:35 BST
• 4 min read

Manchester United could find themselves in hot water, with the Old Trafford club facing the prospect of a tapping up charge relating to their pursuit of Newcastle United executive Dan Ashworth, according to a report.

The issue has come to light after Ashworth, who has been placed on gardening leave by the Magpies while the clubs try to work out a settlement fee, inadvertently sent an email to a Newcastle address that disclosed contact with Man Utd.

It is alleged in the report by the Daily Mail that this came before the Red Devils had made their intentions to sign Ashworth clear to Newcastle.

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The email was sent to incoming Man Utd chief executive Omar Barrada, who himself is on gardening leave from the Premier League champions and who does not officially start at Old Trafford until 17 July.

“It is an embarrassing blunder and error of judgement on the part of the two men who will be charged with restructuring Man United by new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and could be looked at by the Premier League,” the Daily Mail claims.

“We can reveal the pair had a conversation in early February and Ashworth followed that up by sending an email to Berrada - at an INEOS account - making it clear he wanted to accept the opportunity of becoming Man United’s sporting director.

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“However, Ashworth sent a blind copy to his own Newcastle email address, clumsily disclosing to the club the covert negotiations with Berrada. Man United, at this point, had not informed Newcastle of their interest in Ashworth.”

It is further alleged that Ashworth told Berrada of the terms that took him to Newcastle from Brighton, which the report adds “would likely be a breach of confidentiality”.

Already a tense situation

These accusations are unlikely to sit well with Newcastle, who have taken a hardline approach with Man Utd in these negotiations.

The Telegraph reported last month that Newcastle are holding out for £15 million for their sporting director but Man Utd are only willing to pay £2m.

It is claimed that Ashworth, who was placed on gardening leave on 18 February, could find himself in that state for at least a further year, frustrating Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s attempts to get the people into the club that he really wants.

“One of the biggest problems we have in football is we get these new guys to come into the team, they’re really capable people, but they’re all on gardening leave. So it takes six months, a year or even 18 months for them to start. It’s a real issue in football at the moment,” Ratcliffe grumbled last month.

It appears that the Ashworth tug of war between Man Utd and Newcastle might just be getting started.