Manchester United's decision to part with sporting director Dan Ashworth after just five months is the correct one.
That’s according to Simon Jordan who gave his frank view about the 53-year-old's exit on talkSPORT.
Ashworth was approached by United in February but was on gardening leave until July
3
Ashworth was approached by United in February but was on gardening leave until JulyCredit: AFP
Ashworth joined the Red Devils as sporting director on July 1 after a lengthy period of gardening leave at Newcastle United.
talkSPORT understands that the two clubs agreed a £10million compensation package to seal the switch.
However, the transition was not as smooth as hoped and now a split has been decided on before the end of 2024
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is believed to have played a key role in the decision to part ways.
Read more on Man United
In a brief 41-word statement, United said: "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."
And former Crystal Palace owner Jordan believes given the Red Devils spends huge sums on transfer failures like Jadon Sancho, the Ashworth pay-off is just a drop in the ocean considering the issues at hand.
“It’s better to find out now that you don’t have the synergy you thought you had,” he said.
“Maybe he’s going to Arsenal? Maybe they’ve got a sporting director vacancy? The bottom line is, they spent a couple of million quid to get him out of his contract with Newcastle, but they spent £35million on Donny van Beek and then sold for £500,000, people will make decisions that you don’t think they’re going to be.
“Better to find it out quick, if you’re going to get to it, get to it fast. If you don’t think someone has got the chops or the relationship isn’t right, then make the decision and make it quick.”
Simon Jordan believed the right decision had been reached by Man United
3
Simon Jordan believed the right decision had been reached by Man United
So why was he such a bad fit for Man United?
“Who knows?” Jordan added.
“The bottom line is you’ve got personalities there, and you’ve got marginal gains, which obviously has some input in there. I mean, look, they needed to own their decisions. His fingerprints were all over Erik ten Hag. So I don’t think it’s a particular glowing endorsement.”
“People fall out, they’ve made a decision whether it’s mutual or whether it’s based on one party not wanting to work with the other it’s kind of academic.
"I’ll give you an example, people talk about the decision that are made. You buy players and Jadon Sancho for £75million, that’s been a disaster for them, they bought Danny van der Beek who played 35 games.
"Van der Beek cost them £1m a game. The Dan Ashworth decision is nothing. He spent a couple of million quid, he’s out the door, move on to the next opportunity.”
Sancho is currently on loan at fellow Premier League club Chelsea
3
Sancho is currently on loan at fellow Premier League club ChelseaCredit: Getty
“Should there be question marks over the due diligence that was or wasn’t done on Ashworth,” co-host Jim White asked.
Simon responded: “The due diligence on Dan Ashworth is in the public domain. It’s there, he’s accredited with the Brighton situation and the recruitment of players. He’s accredited with St. George’s Park and ultimately the creation of an opportunity there with Gareth Southgate and so on. He’s accredited with Newcastle.”
“How does Ashworth look after this,” White asked as rumours of Arsenal interest in his services pick up.
Jordan responded: “I think lots of people in football have earned reputations or have reputations they haven’t earned. I’m not suggesting that that falls in that space for Dan Ashworth. I spoke to Eddie Howe about him the other day who was diplomatically polite about him.
“But Ashworth moves around with opportunities that suit him. He landed upon the biggest opportunity of his career this was the moment that I figured that we’re going to see if this man is all he’s cracked up to be.
“It’s one thing doing it at Brighton, being successful at West Brom and being successful on the rebuild under the 'anybody-but-Ashley' regime that was in Newcastle as far as the fans were concerned.
Read More on talkSPORT
Manchester United make another 'costly mistake' as Dan Ashworth leaves the club as sporting director
“It’s another thing landing in the biggest pond and five months into it for whatever reason [you leave]. You watch them at games, it’s like the proletariat isn’t it. It’s like the politburo of the Russians sitting there on top, looking down on what they’ve got and what they haven’t got.
“Who knows why they parted but I think if you’re gonna get to it in commercial terms, get to it quick and they’re done."