Dan Ashworth was “frogmarched” out of Old Trafford following Manchester United‘s dismal 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest.
After the latest disappointing loss for the fallen Premier League giants, Ashworth was observed being escorted by United’s chief operating officer Collette Roche, as they made their way past journalists and out of the premises. The 53-year-old had his time as sporting director cut short after just five months on the job.
Ashworth’s unexpected exit has caught many off guard, especially since United had invested a good six months convincing him to jump ship from Newcastle United and paid some £3m for his services. Although a terse statement from the club declared the decision to sever ties with the former FA boss was “mutual”, insiders suggest the club played a leading role in his departure.
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The Manchester Evening News reported that Ashworth avoided eye contact and did not break his stride as he was followed by a security official on his way out. While there is a ‘director’s entrance’ at Old Trafford that Ashworth could have used, he either chose not to, or was denied the option. The MEN’s Samuel Luckhurst wrote on social media: “In retrospect, perhaps he was frogmarched out.”
United’s unemotional official declaration of Ashworth’s departure lacked any hint of sentiment: “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,” reports the Mirror.
(Image: Getty Images)
Within the official announcement, no comments were made by Sir Jim Ratcliffe or United’s CEO Omar Berrada, the latter believed to have delivered the news of the departure to Ashworth at Old Trafford. The lack of a statement from Ratcliffe is particularly telling given his earlier praise for Ashworth during the clubs efforts to recruit him.
In February, Ratcliffe had remarked: “Dan Ashworth is clearly one of the top sporting directors in the world. I have no doubt he is a very capable person.
“He is interested in Manchester United because it’s the biggest challenge at the biggest club in the world. It would be different at City because you’re maintaining a level. Here it’s a significant rebuilding job. He would be a very good addition.”
(Image: PA)
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Ashworth was responsible for managing overall football performance, recruitment and various other operations within the club but has remained silent on his departure. He reported directly to Berrada and worked in close collaboration with Jason Wilcox, the technical director.
Ashworth often represented United as a spokesperson, being quoted by the team on matters of transfers and notably on the baffling extension of Erik ten Hag‘s managerial contract. Ashworth had been instrumental in the club’s significant summer transfer expenses, which exceeded £200 million on players like Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee.
However, all of those acquisitions bar Mazraoui have massively underwhelmed at United so far, with the club slumped in 13th place in the table after a miserable start under Ruben Amorim, following the sacking of Ten Hag following the club’s record worst start to a Premier League season.