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Dan Ashworth is reportedly locked in negotiations over a surprise return to the Football Association.
A whirlwind three years has resulted in Ashworth’s reputation taking a hit. Newcastle United headhunted the 54-year-old - then at Brighton - shortly after the Saudi-backed takeover.
Toon chiefs tasked Ashworth with becoming the fulcrum of an ambitious new era at St James' Park. He spoke about being “in the middle of a wheel, bringing together departments and connecting spokes” - a multi-faceted role overseeing the first team, academy and women’s side.
However, Ashworth signalled his intention to jump ship less than two years into the project. Last February, Manchester United - buoyed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority takeover - made the former Toon supremo their top priority.
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Omar Berrada arrived from Manchester City and Southampton chief Jason Wilcox joined as technical director. Ashworth was the final piece of the puzzle as the Red Devils began rebuilding under Ratcliffe’s ownership.
Newcastle played hardball and forced a five-month legal wrangle which, at times, spilled into a public war of words. The breakthrough came in July when Man United stumped up an undisclosed fee - reportedly worth around £3million - to end his gardening leave early.
Ashworth astonishingly lasted just 159 days before Ratcliffe pulled the trigger. The Ineos billionaire admitted appointing the sporting director was a “mistake” earlier this month.
“They were both mistakes,” Ratcliffe said about keeping Erik ten Hag as manager and appointing Ashworth. “I don’t think we can say much more than that. It’s a journey and there’s a lot of decisions that we have to make over the course of the journey and we’re not going to get them all right.
“I don’t think in the future we’ll get them all right either because we’re not perfect. I think we just have to say, ‘chemistry’. Really, I don’t want to go down that road (on Ashworth’s exit). It is what it is, and it was our fault.”
Arsenal were understood to be keeping tabs on Ashworth’s situation following Edu’s shock departure earlier this season. According to The Telegraph, a return to the FA now looks likely.
Ashworth spent six years at St George’s Park and was a key driver behind England DNA - a philosophy aiming to create winning national teams. The Three Lions have won two World Cups and two Euros at youth level and the senior side has also progressed since the scheme was launched.
A new role would see Ashworth head the men’s and women’s technical operations. Coach development is also high on the FA’s agenda, with just two English managers in the Premier League a current talking point.
Eddie Howe became the first Englishman since Harry Redknapp in 2008 to win a major honour when Newcastle beat Liverpool last weekend. Concerns about domestic coaching were heightened when the FA appointed Thomas Tuchel, a German, to succeed Gareth Southgate as Three Lions boss last year.
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