cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/11927614
Manchester United have identified Dan Ashworth as their No 1 target to become the club’s sporting director.
Although an approach has yet to be made to Newcastle United, that is anticipated as the new regime at Old Trafford seek to recruit Ashworth.
No agreement has been reached for the 52-year-old to embark upon the potential switch and any move for him will not be straightforward, given he is contracted to Newcastle United.
However, the situation is expected to develop rapidly, with Ashworth thought to be open to the opportunity of joining the Manchester United football structure under INEOS.
Ashworth has built a strong reputation as a shrewd talent-spotter and joining Manchester United would see him play a pivotal role in player recruitment, an area where the club have struggled in recent years.
Ashworth began his post-playing career at Peterborough United before becoming West Bromwich Albion’s sporting and technical director in December 2007.
He joined the Football Association (FA) in 2012 and played a key role in the success of both the men’s and women’s national teams before leaving to become technical director at Brighton & Hove Albion in 2019.
He has been sporting director at Newcastle United since February 2022 and was placed on three months gardening leave at Brighton prior to his move to St James’ Park.
Before his move to Newcastle United, Ashworth told The Athletic in 2020 how he considers his job.
“I always draw that I sit in the middle of the wheel and on the outside is the head of each department,” he said. “The job of the technical director is to just keep that wheel spinning by connecting all those spokes together and, when one of those heads of department leaves, recruit them.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is chairman and founder of the petrochemical company INEOS, has agreed to take a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United from the Glazer family, who are diluting their shares in the Premier League side, rather than leaving.
He will also provide $300million (£245m) of his personal wealth for “future investment” at the club.
On Tuesday, Ratcliffe’s and INEOS’ purchase of a minority stake in Manchester United received approval by the Premier League but is still awaiting the green light from the FA.
The 71-year-old said in January that he was hopeful his stake in United would be official by mid-February with a filing on Monday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) — a United States government agency — confirming that the Premier League have approved the move.
Ratcliffe and INEOS have already begun making moves, with the appointment of Omar Berrada from rival Manchester City as their new chief executive.
Joining Berrada on the revamped board are INEOS Sport CEO Jean-Claude Blanc and Sir David Brailsford, the firm’s director of sport.