Rio Ferdinand has sent an X-rated message to Manchester United’s players following the departure of Dan Ashworth as sporting director.
Dan Ashworth has stepped down as sporting director of Manchester United, just five months after his much-anticipated arrival from Newcastle United.
Appointed in the summer as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s strategy to revamp United’s leadership, Ashworth’s move came after a lengthy negotiation process.
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The deal saw him complete six months of gardening leave, with United paying Newcastle approximately £3 million in compensation to secure his early release.
Despite the club’s efforts to bring him on board, Ashworth’s time at Old Trafford has come to an unexpected end. His departure followed United’s 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening.
Sources from various reports revealed that CEO Omar Berrada handled the discussions that led to Ashworth’s dismissal, though co-owner Ratcliffe, who had championed his recruitment, was a driving force behind the decision to part ways with the 53-year-old.
Ferdinand’s X-rated message
Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, former United defender Rio Ferdinand has brutally explained that he hopes INEOS will apply the ruthlessness they have applied to Ashworth to the below-par players at United.
“Dan Ashworth, he’s departed for Manchester United. Confusion is the first thing that comes to mind,” Ferdinand started.
“Like, I just hope they’re as this brutal as they have been with the staff that have been there for years, that they’re culling… I hope they’re this brutal with the s*** players that are there.
“If there’s any s*** players that are there, and ones that have either been there too long, or the ones who just ain’t good enough. Be as brutal as they’ve been. Get them the f*** out, quick, ASAP.
“And I hope they’re like that. For better or worse, at least they’ve made a bloody decision. That’s the way I think about it. You look at the things that are going on; I think there’s a lot of noise around the club. Ticket prices now going up
” There’s been laying off of 250-plus staff. And again, it’s like, they’re very definitive, and they’re very like, ‘right, we’re doing this, and we don’t care about the noise’.”
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