Manchester United have ditched the role of sporting director after parting with Dan Ashworth on Sunday, with the post now consigned to history, according to the Sun.
The Red Devils co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, decided that the 53-year-old will not be replaced, and Sir Dave Brailsford, CEO Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox will share the responsibilities of the position going forward.
The departure of Ashworth is now expected to open the door to further cuts at Man United, with more employees set to join the 250 staff that have been made redundant.
The academy and women’s footballing section are likely to be streamlined, and Ratcliffe will face little or no resistance at the board level.
Ashworth fought against too many cutbacks despite the British billionaire wanting more, and his exit means the co-owner is set to have more freedom.
Berrada and the departed sporting director had a huge fall-out over how Man United should get back to the pinnacle of English and European football, and those tasked with taking up his responsibilities have to deliver going forward.
Ashworth is already in demand despite only leaving the Red Devils a few days ago, with Arsenal and Everton both keen on recruiting his services.
More clubs are expected to join them in the pursuit of the former Man United chief, and Ratcliffe will hope he has made the right decision in the coming months.
The co-owner and Ashworth had different ideas concerning who to replace Erik ten Hag as manager, with the latter preferring someone with Premier League experience.
Ruben Amorim got the job in the end and the 39-year-old has seen the nature of the huge job on his hands following back-to-back league defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
The Portuguese will be desperate to turn things around, and how he fares during the course of his first two full seasons in charge will determine his future and whether Ashworth was right or wrong.