After New Year 2024, new United boss Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS team set out to implement the big changes at Mancheester United, changes that would show the world in the short and long term how to run one of the world’s most iconic clubs. One of the first things that was done was to get in touch with Newcastle’s successful sporting director. This turned out to be an unsuccessful operation – which cost a fortune.
Dan Ashworth is considered one of the best English sporting directors, the job he did at Brighton has lifted the club financially and sportingly. At Newcastle, Ashworth was the mastermind behind the successful build-up of a new squad adapted to changing economic conditions after the change of ownership.
Then Manchester United called, Newcastle responded by sending Ashworth on “gardening leave”. In the summer, the quarrel between the clubs was finally over, United reportedly paid “only” £5 million to run away with the Newcastle director.
Now it was time to work. Then, at the beginning of December, Ashworth was sent to the gate. Sir Jim and Dan couldn’t find the tone. Now the accounting figures are presented, which show what United put in Ashworth’s bag on the way out of Old Trafford.
£4.1 million in compensation for pain and suffering. For having been on the job for 159 days as sporting director at Manchester United, reports the Manchester Evening News.
No doubt, it is very lucrative to be sacked at Manchester United.
