Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth has been identified as being pivotal in Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Man United restructuring plans as he sets out to overhaul their off-field structure in the coming weeks.
The billionaire has apparently identified Newcastle sporting director Ashworth as his primary target to replicate his role at Manchester United. Ratcliffe will assume control of sporting operations at Old Trafford once his deal for a 25 per cent stake in the club is ratified in the coming weeks and the main priority on the Ineos chief’s agenda is to source a new sporting director to overhaul the club’s recruitment strategy.
Despite various names having been linked with United, Ashworth, formerly of Brighton and The Football Association, is the man Ratcliffe appears to have set his sights on, with The Sun reporting that Ashworth has emerged as United’s top target for the role as Ratcliffe prepares to take charge at Old Trafford. Addressing that new development, Newcastle have since identified Bournemouth technical director Richard Hughes as a potential replacement for Ashworth.
Sweeping changes to United’s off-field structure are expected once Ratcliffe, 71, assumes control at the club and several of his own people are likely to be handed roles, key among whom would be his right-hand man, Sir David Brailsford.
Ratcliffe is also expected to seek the counsel of Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson before implementing any major changes at the club, including the formal appointment of a sporting director, according to The Telegraph earlier this month. Ferguson’s having a say in who United would pursue for such a role had led some to believe that Dougie Freedman, currently holding a similar position at Crystal Palace, could be ideally placed to become a part of Ratcliffe’s new team.
Freedman’s sterling record in the transfer market over the past few years at Selhurst Park hasn’t gone unnoticed at Ineos and Ferguson is also known to be a big advocate of the Scotsman. However, the latest trend of thought is that Ashworth, rather than Freedman, will be courted ahead of any meeting between Ratcliffe and Ferguson.
It is anyone’s guess when the formal announcement of Ratcliffe’s agreement with the Glazers will take place, which has been anticipated to come this week.