OFFICIAL: Man Utd sporting director Dan Ashworth leaves club after just five months

Carlo Garganese

• 8 Dec 2024 04:37 CST
• 3 min read

Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth has left the club after just five months in the job.

In what has come as a huge shock, a decision to part ways was agreed in a meeting with Man Utd chief executive Omar Berrada following the 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening.

"Dan Ashworth will be leaving his role as Sporting Director of Manchester United by mutual agreement," an official Man Utd statement read on Sunday.

"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."

According to David Ornsetin, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has played an active role in the decision to part ways with Ashworth.

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The 53-year-old only officially started his job as Man Utd sporting director on July 1.

This came after an exhaustive and controversial pursuit of Ashworth from Newcastle United, which was marred by legal problems and resulted in a significant compensation package having to be paid to secure the sporting director.

Indeed, Ashworth had been on gardening leave for a lengthy period of time until he could begin his job at Old Trafford.

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Despite all the time, effort and money that went in to bringing Ashworth to United, he has lasted just five months in the job.

Man Utd instigated decision to part ways with Ashworth

It is reported by The Athletic that things have not worked out for Ashworth at United and a decision has been made to divorce.

United are said to have instigated the decision to part ways but it was a mutual agreement at the end.

The news comes as a bombshell given Ashworth was supposed to play a key role in the rebuild of United after over a decade of struggles on and off the pitch.

Ashworth played an active role in Man Utd’s summer spending spree which saw almost €250 million spent on the likes of Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs De Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee.

So far this season, United have continued to struggle. They are 13th in the Premier League and have already changed manager once with Ruben Amorim replacing Erik ten Hag.