Dan Ashworth was appointed as Manchester United’s sporting director in the summer of 2024, but the 54-year-old was axed following a crisis meeting with the club
Roy Keane has questioned why Dan Ashworth’s spell as Manchester United sporting director was so brief. After a lengthy period on gardening leave at St. James’ Park, Sir Jim Ratcliffe recruited the 54-year-old in the summer of 2024.
United paid around £3m for his services, following extensive negotiations with Newcastle United. According to the Mirror, Ashworth had expressed his desire to join the cub several months earlier, but an agreement wasn’t reached until July.
The British billionaire was believed to be a great admirer of Ashworth, publicly praising his work at the beginning of the year. Ratcliffe described the former FA technical director as ‘one of the top sporting directors in the world’, adding that he would be a ‘very good addition’.
Ashworth eventually joined United’s new-look boardroom as part of a broader restructuring. Despite shelling out a seven-figure sum for a handpicked expert, Ashworth was only given five months at the helm.
During his time at Old Trafford, United spent £200m on five new players: Manuel Ugarte, Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee. Many of these signings would have been tailored to Erik ten Hag, who was dismissed in October.
The Mirror revealed that Ashworth left United after a crisis meeting with Omar Berrada, following a disappointing 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford. Ratcliffe was reportedly central to the decision, which was ‘initiated by United’ despite an official statement suggesting his departure was by mutual consent.
Speaking on the Rest Is Football podcast, Keane highlighted Ashworth’s early exit as he raised concerns about some of the club’s decision-making. Ian Wright kicked things off.
On United, the Arsenal legend said: “You have to start somewhere. You can’t see the end. Jason Wilcox – he was the technical director, now he’s the sporting director – so Man United are just promoting.
“Why don’t they just go out and get a top director of football. [Manchester] City wouldn’t do that. Arsenal wouldn’t do that.”
Keane interjected: “But United did do that, didn’t they, with Dan Ashworth.”
Wright responded: “And what happened to him? They have to go again.”
Keane, who was puzzled by the situation at United, said: “How many months was he there, Dan? Did they wait a couple of years for him? They paid big compensation, and he’s out the door. I definitely think there’s something going on at United in terms of the environment – there has to be.
“The last few years, there have been too many good managers going, too many good players going, and it’s just not happened. Listen, they’ve had some cup runs, they’ve been a cup, but there must be something going on.
Later in the podcast, Keane suggested that results in the boardroom have taken priority over results on the pitch. Earlier this year, United announced plans to build a new 100,000-seater stadium, which Ratcliffe has promised to be the ‘world’s greatest’.
The Reds are confident that a deal can now be struck to secure land, owned by Freightliner, behind the Stretford End at Old Trafford. Keane said: “When we played at United, we knew there was a business side to football, of course, but I always felt that United, rightly or wrongly, it was always about the football first.
“There was obviously a business side to it, in terms of tickets and shares, but that comes from the football. I think it seems to be, it’s more about the business side, and the football seems to be behind the business side – that’s how it feels.”
Keane added: “That’s all we’re reading about United: the numbers, the stadiums, and this and that.”
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