DAN ASHWORTH has left Manchester United following showdown talks last night.
The sporting director’s shock exit comes after just five months at Old Trafford.
SunSport exclusively revealed three weeks ago how United’s new hierarchy were locked in a blame game over their summer business.
Ashworth joined the club in July following a lengthy gardening leave period after he quit Newcastle.
The 53-year-old was appointed by Man Utd to oversee “performance, recruitment and operations”, with the Red Devils agreeing to pay £3million in compensation to the Toon.
But following showdown talks with CEO Omar Berrada after the 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest last night, Ashworth quit by mutual consent.
A club statement read: “Dan Ashworth will be leaving his role as Sporting Director of Manchester United by mutual agreement.
“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.”
The Athletic claims Sir Jim Ratcliffe was pivotal in the call to part ways.
Ashworth played a huge role in United’s £183million summer spending spree during the first transfer window under Ineos leadership.
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The club signed Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs De Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui.
Ashworth was also involved in the decision to initially keep Erik ten Hag and hand him a new contract, only to for him to be sacked just 14 games later.
The former FA chief, who was credited with creating the “England DNA”, was quoted in the statements confirming every signing.
But we did not hear from him on Ten Hag’s axing or on the appointment of Ruben Amorim.
Ashworth’s departure comes as a huge shock to many, with one fan saying: “Man Utd waited longer to get Ashworth out of Newcastle than he has lasted in the job. Mad.”
Another added: “Utterly embarrassing and the amount of time and money to secure him. The direction of the club is meant to be based on the structure and at this moment that feels insecure. Shambles.”
But others defended the decision, commenting: “If someone isn’t working, then get rid. No point keeping someone if its not working.”
Ratcliffe previously hailed Ashworth as “clearly one of the top sporting directors in the world”.
But he was apparently not a good “fit”, according to the Mail.
But yesterday he suggested United are still miles behind where they need to be when it comes to transfers.
Ratcliffe said: “We’ve not been good enough at recruitment, you probably agree with that. Everybody would agree with that.
“And until we’re as good as anyone in the world, then it’s not good enough for Manchester United.
“We must have the best recruitment in the world. Data analysis comes alongside recruitment. It doesn’t really exist here. We’re still in the last century on data analysis here.
“There’s an immense amount of useful data that we can get from data analysis and we’re in the ‘very poor’ bracket with data analysis here.
“These things don’t happen overnight. You can’t just flick a light switch and sort out recruitment. It’s all about people and we need to find the right people.”
DAN ASHWORTH is a true footballing man who has progressed through the game’s ranks all the way from player to club director.
He never made it to the top as a player, instead featuring for a number of non-league sides and in the US.
After hanging up his boots he quickly moved into the backroom, landing his first job at Peterborough.
His big break came at West Brom, before he moved on to the Three Lions job where he was instrumental in creating ‘England’s DNA’.
Two roles with Premier League clubs followed before Man Utd swooped in the summer.
So what’s next for Ashworth?
READ HIS FULL STORY HERE:
As for Amorim, he said in his first press conference after joining last month that he wants the final say on transfers.
He explained: “Everybody has to work together and for that we have to improve the process of recruitment, the data, the profile of players we want.
“But I have to have a strong position on that because I am the coach. I know how to play, so I think it’s all together but the final word should be the manager.
“Not just because it’s your right but your responsibility. Because, in the end, the result is to me, so I think it’s all together to improve the process of recruitment.
“I have a great responsibility when we choose players because this is something that should be done this way. I’m the manager, the head coach, so I have to choose the players.”
When Ashworth’s Newcastle exit and United arrival was finally secured, he said: “This remains one of the biggest football clubs in the world, but that is not our measure of success; the focus is on getting back to being among the best on the pitch.
“It won’t happen overnight, but, together with Omar and his new leadership team, we will not rest until we have achieved it.
“Although I grew up in Norfolk, I’ve always had a strong attachment with Manchester because my mum and dad were born in Middleton and my grandparents lived their whole lives there.
“When I visited as a boy, my dad would take me to games across Greater Manchester and I remember the thrill of my first visit to Old Trafford in the late 1970s, watching the likes of Lou Macari, Jimmy Nicholl and Arthur Albiston.
“I can’t claim to have been a partisan United fan – my dad enjoyed watching all the local teams – but I remember the special buzz that always seemed to surround games at Old Trafford, and it’s something I have experienced many times since during my career in football.”
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