AXED Dan Ashworth drew up a four-man shortlist to replace Erik ten Hag – and Ruben Amorim was reportedly NOT included.
The sporting director left Manchester United after just five months in his role, in what has been a farcical season for the Red Devils.
Ashworth, 53, was given the boot less than an hour after United’s 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on Saturday.
And it has since been revealed by sources close to The Athletic that Ashworth wasn’t keen on Amorim’s appointment.
Instead the former Newcastle and West Brom director wanted an English manager with more experience in the domestic game.
He had a list and those he did propose had at one thing Amorin didn’t – Premier League experience.
The first two names included were Eddie Howe, despite the picture not always being rosy at Newcastle, as well as Fulham‘s Marco Silva.
The next two, Brentford manager Thomas Frank and ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter, who could have come in possibly as an interim until the end of the season.
Potter is now reportedly willing to temporarily take over at West Ham should Julen Lopetegui be sacked this week, according to talkSPORT.
But co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wanted to hear more adventurous ideas from the man they gave Newcastle £2.5million for, and away from the people Ashworth already knew.
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But the sporting operation expert allegedly didn’t provide clear, compelling arguments for who to bring in.
It’s perhaps far from a coincidence that there was nothing from Ashworth on the official announcement of Amorim.
Ashworth had been quoted on Ten Hag’s contract extension and every signing brought in during the summer.
According to The Athletic, Ashworth was said to have had little input on selecting Amorim as United’s boss, with CEO Omar Berrada a major influence on the Portuguese getting the job.
It was Berrada who flew to Lisbon when Ten Hag was sacked to negotiate with Sporting president Frederico Varandas face-to-face.
But it should be noted that Berrada went because he, rather than Ashworth, knew the people at Sporting.
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SunSport also exclusively revealed three weeks ago that United’s new hierarchy were locked in a blame game over their summer business, and who decided to extend Ten Hag’s contract only for the Dutchman to be sacked 14 games later.
Berrada and Ashworth were trying to wash their hands of it all, claiming they had arrived too late after serving their gardening leave.
But their denied involvement irritated Ratcliffe, who said making decisions was all down to them.
The Red Devils co-owner, who bought a 27.7 per cent stake, also revealed “it’s not my decision” before Ten Hag was given the boot.
Ashworth’s departure was instigated by those at the top of the club.
The sense among staff is a joint decision between Ratcliffe, Berrada, Sir Dave Brailsford and co-owner Joel Glazer.
Tension was also apparent when Ashworth proposed bringing in a data company to evaluate the candidates to replace Ten Hag.
Ratcliffe was said to have reacted badly, countering that it was Ashworth’s job to know such matters rather than outsource it.
Eyebrows were also raised when Ashworth took a holiday on Amorim’s second day at Carrington.
There were mitigating circumstances, with Ashworth marking a significant family event having postponed previous attempts for work reasons.
His absence, around the same time, from November’s executive committee meeting was however seen by some as a further indication all was not well.
Ashworth had attended the ExCo summit in October at Ineos headquarters in London, as well as the previous one in Barcelona.
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:
