Sir Jim Ratcliffe, owner of Manchester United, Sir Dave Brailsford, head of sport for Omar Berrada, Chief Executive officer of Manchester United and Dan Ashworth.
Dan Ashworth left his position at Manchester United after five months.
Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth, once described by INEOS owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe as one of the best in the world, has left his post after just 5 months - and Manchester Evening News readers in our comments section are taking a dim view of the chaos behind the scenes.
Ashworth was brought in after a long pursuit, marred by difficult negotiations with his former employer, Newcastle United. He was expected to herald INEOS' new era at Manchester United, putting an end to the club's questionable transfer record under the Glazers, but that job will now fall to someone else.
During Ashworth's time at United, Erik ten Hag was offered his contract extension after an 8th place finish in the Premier League, recorded a negative goal difference, though the FA Cup win went in his favour. The club's summer business has been questioned too, with new arrival Joshua Zirkzee under the spotlight after failing to hit the ground running.
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MEN readers reckon that the shift to a new manager's system, and politics behind the scenes, played a part in Ashworth's sudden departure. Commenter Busby68 says: “My guess is he wasn’t the panacea to the recruitment problem that everyone expected. He’s probably jumped before he was pushed.
"We all know Ratcliffe can be ruthless, and, who knows, maybe the manager has had his two pence worth. I believe Amorim to be his own man and he has had an opportunity to look at the squad and raised concerns over the recruitment side.”
Reader Trouble4 agrees: “It's clear what has happened. The INEOS story when they started was United were going to agree a playing style, "The United Way," with all the management team in agreement.
"Then they appoint a new head coach who very much has his own style and system, and clearly is not going to change it. Now we have a head coach with a team totally unsuited to play how he wants to play. Part of his agreement when starting was he would have a very big say in recruitment, because he is best to identify the type of players he needs.
"So the initial INEOS idea of a United Way was blown out the water. The idea that the head coach would have minimal input in recruitment, gone. This left Ashworth with a huge loss of power in recruitment, so it was time for him to leave.”
Floatin writes: “I don't believe the problem was the summer business - I think we've signed some decent players there who'll need time to adapt to the Premier League, but most are looking to be good business. Let's put it this way - we've bought a lot worse in the last 10 years.
"The problem might have been the extension to Ten Hag's contract (was that Ashworth's call?), but more likely this was a political power play. We've hired a lot of big egos at the top who clearly have different visions for the club going forward. It feels like he got pushed out. As usual though, more embarrassment for the club. We hoped these days were gone but for now it feels like little has changed.”
Ke88 thinks that it could work out well for United: “Going for Amorim is a massive shift in style and how you build a team. Maybe that didn’t align with how Ashworth wanted to build the roster long term. All I will say is Chelsea had all these type of moves a year ago.
"Loads of football people hired then moved on after a few months. Then they settled on a structure. Everyone called it a mess. Now look. Sometimes it is better to cause a mess to get to the right path than plod along and end up at the same spot.”
Steviweavi isn't convinced that the chaos is over: “Wonder how much that has cost us! INEOS are becoming a joke. We were led to believe they had done due diligence before keeping Ten Hag. Then they panic, and choose a manager who plays a system practically alien to the current squad. Something they said they wouldn't do.
"As a consequence, not surprisingly, Amorim is having to put square pegs into round holes, and hasn't got the usual 'new manager bounce' from the squad. Now the guy who was supposed to be the best sporting director since the invention of sliced bread has left. INEOS seem to be doing their best to beat the Glazers dismal track record!”
Have your say! Do you think that Dan Ashworth's sudden departure signals chaos behind the scenes at Manchester United? Or will "ruthless" decisions like these make things better for the club? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.