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Simon Jordan has questioned whether Dan Ashworth had the qualities to cut the mustard at Manchester United.
Old Trafford chiefs battled relentlessly to snatch the sporting director from St James’ Park. A five-month public saga turned ugly, with Ashworth being placed on gardening leave while the two clubs thrashed out a compensation package.
The 53-year-old ultimately joined the Red Devils in July - but was axed on Saturday just months into his tenure. Man United pulled the trigger following their 3-2 home defeat to Nottingham Forest at the weekend.
Former Crystal Palace owner Jordan previously defended Newcastle for their hardball stance over Ashworth. He has now suggested the ex-Toon chief may not have deserved his elite reputation.
“The bottom line is you’ve got personalities there and you’ve got marginal gains, which obviously has some input in there,” Jordan told talkSPORT. “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.
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“Lots of people in football have reputations they haven’t earned. I’m not suggesting 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. It’s another thing landing in the biggest pond and, five months into it, for whatever reason, (you leave).”
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