Dan Ashworth during his time as Brighton and Hove Albion technical director
Dan Ashworth during his time as Brighton and Hove Albion technical director (Image: PA)
Martin Keown has warned Arsenal about appointing Dan Ashworth after he hastily swapped St James' Park for Old Trafford. The former Manchester United sporting director left the club on Sunday after only five months, having been prised away from his previous employers, Newcastle United, following protracted negotiations.
This move was seen as a bold statement from new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS. Despite being lauded as 'one of the best sporting directors in the world' by the British billionaire, Ashworth's decision to leave the Magpies – a move that ended badly, necessitated arbitration, resulted in him being put on gardening leave and left Eddie Howe disappointed – was criticised at the time.
Now, Keown has reignited this controversy, questioning whether his beloved former club, who have been linked with Ashworth following Edu's departure, should chase someone who could look to jump ship in the future. Speaking to David Seaman on the Seaman Says podcast, brought to you by Betway, the Arsenal legend said: "I was troubled with the fact that he wanted to leave Newcastle so quickly.
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"Suddenly, something's glistening in the distance, shiny in the shape of Manchester United, and he wants to jump from Newcastle. Okay, what sort of personality are we talking about?"
Keown voiced his concerns about the disruption caused by sporting directors leaving their roles abruptly. He said: "The sporting directors, they're role models within the building.
"They're having a say with all the young players, their behaviour, contracts and the rest of it, and then suddenly someone just leaves. Just click of a finger, he's gone."
Dan Ashworth will no longer be sharing the directors box with Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Dan Ashworth will no longer be sharing the directors box with Sir Jim Ratcliffe (Image: Getty)
In light of speculations that Arsenal could be eyeing Ashworth as a potential replacement for Edu, Keown fears this could send the wrong message at Emirates. He added: "He turns up at Manchester United, and it feels embarrassing now.
"It's a power struggle, you know. They've got so many different cooks, haven't they? It's all speculation right now. But he's gone out the door very quickly."
Moreover, Keown expressed disappointment over Edu's departure, potentially to work under Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. The Gunners icon said: "I'm not happy that Edu's gone. That, for me, was a disappointment because it leaves the manager on his own.
Arsenal's Brazilian technical director Edu looks on after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 19, 2024
Edu has left his position as Sporting Director at Arsenal (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
"I think Richard Garlick will attend to that quickly and the necessary people will be back in. Whether we (Arsenal) take someone that Man United don't want, or didn't like [Ashworth], I don't know.
"It does seem that the journalists I'm hearing who are breaking the story seem to have had Dan Ashworth's ear. It seems that because he was 'shocked and stunned'. So, we're hearing that, so where's that coming from?
"I think it's coming from the horse's mouth. But as I say, I'd love to hear from him sometime soon because I'd be really interested to get the insight from Dan Ashworth as to why this guy, who Jim Ratcliffe said, 'he's the best in class', within a few months is out the door."
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