FootyChatter.com

Dan Ashworth has left his position as Manchester United’s sporting director after only five months at the club. Manchester United recruited Ashworth to much fanfare and expense from Newcastle but they have come to a mutual agreement to part ways. Talks were held between Ashworth and the chief executive, Omar Berrada, after the 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest which left United in 13th in the league, and minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe signed off on his departure. Ashworth felt undermined by the ownership and excluded from what he saw as key processes, as it became clear the appointment was working for neither party. The decision was met with surprise by staff within the club but talks regarding Ashworth’s role have taken place over a number of weeks by key stakeholders at Old Trafford, as it soon became apparent that things were not working as planned, concluding with the confirmation of the sporting director’s exit on Sunday. “Dan Ashworth will be leaving his role as sporting director of Manchester United by mutual agreement, ” read a club statement. “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. ” Since Ineos invested in the club last year, they have made a number of structural changes within the organisation. This saw Berrada being lured from Manchester City to lead the hierarchy while key Ratcliffe lieutenant Sir Dave Brailsford has been an influential figure. Ashworth was joined by technical director Jason Wilcox and Christopher Vivell, who is currently director of recruitment to reshape the playing side. Ashworth was a key target for the new regime under minority owner Ratcliffe and paid Newcastle a seven-figure compensation fee to secure his services. Prior to starting work at United, Ashworth had been placed on gardening leave by Newcastle until a settlement was made between the two clubs to allow him to start work on 1 July, rather than seeing out a potential 18-month notice period. The 53-year-old arrived with huge expectations after his work at Brighton, the FA and Newcastle but the reality of the situation United find themselves in has made it a struggle to replicate that success. The former Football Association technical director was given the remit to oversee performance and recruitment at United but saw through only one transfer window where £200m was spent on a number of signings, including Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs De Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte. Ashworth was part of the hierarchy that agreed to keep Erik ten Hag in charge, and extend his contract, after winning the FA Cup despite a disappointing eighth-placed Premier League finish and elimination from the Champions League at the group stage. The Dutchman failed to turn things around and was eventually dismissed last month with United sitting in 14th place and without a win in this season’s Europa League. Berrada travelled with Ashworth to Lisbon in November in order to sell the project of Manchester United to Ruben Amorim and convinced him to leave Sporting for England. Amorim said he “felt a connection” with Ashworth and his colleagues, adding “we want to do something special in the special club” when he was appointed last month. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Ashworth had reservations about switching to new head coach Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation as wanted a consistent style, regardless of whom was in the dugout, to aid with long-term recruitment strategy, which was a source of tension. It is unclear if they will seek an external replacement for Ashworth or reorganise the current hierarchy with those already in situ as the club look for the right formula amid a period of transition under Ratcliffe.