Dan Ashworth has followed up his messy Newcastle United exit with a shock departure from Manchester United.
Newcastle fans were surprised to see Dan Ashworth leave Man United on Sunday, less than six months after his arrival at Old Trafford.
It is staggering to see his tenure as Manchester United sporting director end so soon, after Newcastle received £5million in compensation for Ashworth – even if the Red Devils claim they paid less.
Regardless, the Ashworth situation is embarrassing for Man United, who committed so much time towards getting him out of St James’ Park.
How Dan Ashworth felt about Amanda Staveley leaving Newcastle United
Manchester United's sporting director, Dan Ashworth (C) takes his seat for the UEFA Europa League, League Phase football match between Manchester ...
Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
It was all for nothing, while Newcastle United fans will wonder what was the point too.
Now a new update from the Athletic hints that Dan Ashworth’s move away from Newcastle was even more pointless than initially thought.
According to the Athletic, Ashworth has suggested to some people that he might not have left Newcastle United so soon had he known that Amanda Staveley would be departing.
The Athletic add that Eddie Howe would often speak to Staveley directly rather than via Ashworth, due to their existing relationship at St James’ Park.
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Reading between the lines, it sounds like Ashworth was being bypassed, as he struggled to gain the ultimate power that he craved behind the scenes at Newcastle United.
He went in search of that power at Man United, as Newcastle placed him on gardening leave in February 2024.
As for Staveley, she sold her Newcastle United shares and left her role as a director on July 12th 2024, just days after Ashworth officially started work at Old Trafford.
Newcastle United and Manchester United have reached an agreement for the immediate release of Dan Ashworth from his contractual obligations at #NUFC.
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— Newcastle United (@NUFC) July 1, 2024
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Paul Mitchell must prove this Newcastle United mess was worth it
Had Ashworth known that Staveley was not going to be at Newcastle for much longer, perhaps he might have rejected Man United’s advances.
And if he had stayed put, Newcastle would not have gone through the messy process of finding a replacement. There was the failed pursuit of Dougie Freedman, before bringing in Paul Mitchell.
Following Mitchell’s arrival, there was a period of tension. It was an uncomfortable summer at Newcastle United, with talk of friction between Mitchell and Howe.
While they insist it was blown out or proportion, the jury is still out ahead of the January transfer window.
In Mitchell, Newcastle have got someone who excels in recruitment. However, that is yet to be put to the test on Tyneside, while his arrival has nullified the impact of Steve Nickson behind the scenes.
While Ashworth’s reputation has taken a battering in 2024, I do wonder if Newcastle United would be better off had he remained in his role as the Magpies’ sporting director.
Only time will tell, and it is up to Paul Mitchell to prove that the club is in a better position on the back of the Ashworth debacle.
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