Manchester United co owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe with Sir Dave Brailsford (L) and Sir Alex Ferguson (R) before the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 25, 2024 in London, England
The Manchester United board has been facing lots of criticism
Alan Shearer has slammed the recent exit of Dan Ashworth from Manchester United as a "terrible look".
Ashworth, aged 53, parted ways with Old Trafford after a brief tenure of just five months as sporting director. The club had previously paid a compensation fee of between £2m-£3m to Newcastle United for his services, following a protracted period of gardening leave imposed by his ex-employer.
However, Ashworth's time on gardening leave nearly matched his stint in the Old Trafford executive suite, with his departure coinciding with United's 3-2 home loss to Nottingham Forest. This occurred amidst Sir Jim Ratcliffe's £8.6million costs surrounding the redundancy of 250 staff members.). With everything that is going on, the Match of the Day pundits have not been impressed with the club.
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When questioned on the Rest is Football podcast about whether INEOS has shown any discernible strategy since taking over at Old Trafford, Micah Richards said: "We have to say no. We have to say no. Of course there will be a strategy, those people are not successful and they don't get to that place without having strategies.
"Of course they'll have a strategy, they've just not implemented it successfully and there have been many things that have been dealt with badly. We know it's difficult because it's Man Utd and everything is scrutinised... but too many decisions have leaked out of the club and they're looking really amateurish at this moment in time."
Shearer added: "It's not a good look at all for them is it? It's pretty bloody embarrassing with what's gone on with Dan Ashworth leaving.
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"Decisions that have happened since they have been there, in terms of the money that they have spent and the decisions that have made with Ten Hag, extending his contract, sacking him, paying him off, giving him the players they got in the summer and then getting rid of him.
"Putting Dan Ashworth on gardening leave, getting him out of Newcastle, paying compensation for him and then getting rid of him after five months. It's laughable really, it's such a terrible look. I don't know, it's not a good look at all."
Lineker focussed his views on the footballing side of the club, paying greater focus to their last summer transfer splurge. The former England forward said: "Ultimately the worst thing of all is the recruitment and the amount of money they've paid out for players that have not realised what they obviously realised was good potential."
Dan Ashworth's shock exit was another embarrassment for the new Manchester United board (Image: Getty Images)
United splashed approximately £200m on fresh talent in the summer, with Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte, Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee being brought in during Ten Hag's last transfer window. While new head coach Ruben Amorim's arrival lifted spirits, his first five games have only seen two wins, a draw and two losses.
The Red Devils' struggles are ongoing, as they languish in 13th place in the Premier League, trailing the top four by eight points. Speaking to the 'United We Stand' fanzine, Ratcliffe said: "The club has drifted for a long period of time, a decade or so.
"Manchester United has become mediocre. It's not elite and it is supposed to be one of the best football clubs in the world. That's what it used to be under Alex (Ferguson). There is major change to come to achieve elite status. There has already been huge change."
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