Newcastle have placed sporting director Dan Ashworth on gardening leave after an approach from Manchester United.
The 52-year-old told the Tyneside club he wanted to leave on Sunday.
Darren Eales, Newcastle United CEO, said on Monday: "We are naturally disappointed that Dan has chosen to leave, however our exciting journey doesn't stop and the process to recruit a new sporting director will begin immediately.
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"We thank Dan for his efforts at Newcastle United and we wish him and his family well for the future."
Ashworth is top of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's list to front up his new football operation at Old Trafford after completing his deal for a 25 per cent stake in the club.
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There is yet to be a formal approach for Ashworth, but that is expected to come this week.
Ashworth informed Newcastle of Man Utd's interest last weekend.
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Newcastle have not put a figure on Ashworth's services, but it's thought it could reach in excess of £10m should Man Utd want to buy out his contract so he can start work ahead of the summer transfer window.
Ashworth joined Newcastle from a similar role at Brighton exactly two years ago, with Newcastle themselves paying compensation to attain him.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe called for a swift resolution to the situation at his press conference on Friday, and agreed that it was a concern that Ashworth, privy to sensitive recruitment information, was being approached by a Premier League rival.
Neville: Man Utd could blow another £100m if they don't pay for Ashworth
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville:
"Should Man Utd pay more money to get Ashworth now? If that's the sporting director that they want and they want him to start straight away.
"He will have restrictions to not be able to work at another club in the same space for 12 months, I'm sure of that.
"Man Utd might say 'we can't wait that long so we will pay for it'. It is imperative that Man Utd get someone in place before the next transfer window.
"If you don't pay £10m to get Ashworth out, and you get another window wrong, you could blow another £100m. So it's important they get the right people in.
"What Man Utd need to do is stop the rot. When Man Utd phoned any club in Europe they were going here we go its bingo time we are about to get paid a load of money.
"Ashworth won't allow that to happen - he's quite resilient and measured around those situations."
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FAQs
Dan Ashworth has been placed on gardening leave after asking to depart Newcastle United, with Manchester United interested in appointing him as their sporting director. Ashworth informed Newcastle United of his decision to leave on Sunday.
Why is Dan Ashworth on gardening leave? ›
However, by February 2024, it was reported that Manchester United had shown interest in appointing him to a similar role within their organization. Consequently, Newcastle confirmed they had placed Ashworth on gardening leave following this development.
Where is Dan Ashworth now? ›
He was then hired by Brighton as the club's technical director in 2019, where he was involved in the hiring of Graham Potter and the rise of the team up the Premier League table. Newcastle then appointed Ashworth as technical director in 2022 after the Saudi-led consortium takeover of the club was completed.
Who is Newcastle's director of football? ›
Manchester United baulk at £20m fee for Newcastle director Dan Ashworth | Newcastle United | The Guardian.
What players has Dan Ashworth signed? ›
Dan Ashworth's 10 best signings amid Man Utd links include £115m rated Premier League ace
- Tariq Lamptey. Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images. ...
- Moises Caicedo. Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images. ...
- Kaoru Mitoma. Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images. ...
- Marc Cucurella. ...
- Alexander Isak. ...
- Anthony Gordon. ...
- Nick Pope.
Football executive Dan Ashworth arrived at Newcastle United to great fanfare as the club's first sporting director back in 2022 – but just two years' later, he finds himself subject to 18 months' gardening leave.
Why did Dan Ashworth leave Newcastle? ›
It is not that Ashworth was actively seeking to leave Newcastle — even if there are soundings that the sporting director was, at times, frustrated by the scope of his control relative to the position he thought he was assuming — he just could not resist the lure of this Manchester United rebuild.
What did Dan Ashworth do at Newcastle? ›
Dan Ashworth is the Magpies sporting director, a role he took over after spending a few months on gardening leave following a spell at Brighton. He's now requested his release from Newcastle to the board of his current club, which quickly put Ashworth on another gardening leave until the situation gets resolved.
Has Dan Ashworth left Newcastle United? ›
Darren Eales, Newcastle's CEO, said: "We are naturally disappointed that Dan has chosen to leave, however our exciting journey doesn't stop and the process to recruit a new sporting director will begin immediately. We thank Dan for his efforts at Newcastle United and we wish him and his family well for the future."
What did Dan Ashworth study? ›
Having been released by Norwich's Academy as a 17-year-old full-back, Ashworth worked as a PE teacher while studying for his coaching badges – including the UEFA Pro Licence – and playing semi-professionally for St Leonards and Wisbech Town before a spell in the United States with West Florida Fury.
Ashworth is widely regarded as one of the best sporting directors in football, and first established a relationship with Brailsford when he was working as the FA's director of elite development, helping England's youth teams to under-17 and under-20 World Cup titles in 2017.
What football team does Dan Ashworth support? ›
Manchester United face a fight to prise Dan Ashworth away from Newcastle and make him their new head of football due to his loyalty to the Tyneside club, though the 52-year-old is attracted by the challenge of transforming United's fortunes.
What did Newcastle pay Brighton for Ashworth? ›
That would see Newcastle make a £15m profit, having paid Brighton £5m for his services in 2022. However, Man United are baulking at that price and are set to negotiate a lower value. Like Newcastle, the club are battling finance spending constraints after Erik ten Hag's £400m transfer splash over the past two summers.
How long is Dan Ashworth contract at Newcastle? ›
Newcastle United can announce that Dan Ashworth has commenced a period of gardening leave. This move, while expected from Newcastle, might keep Ashworth in limbo for more than two years until his contract runs out at the end of June 2026, only then being allowed to leave the Magpies to join Man Utd.
Will Dan Ashworth go to Man Utd? ›
Newcastle United's sporting director Dan Ashworth is still on gardening leave and nothing has changed in the negotiations between the Magpies and Manchester United for the departure of the staffer before his contract runs out in 2026, according to football insider David Ornstein of The Athletic.
Is garden leave still employed? ›
Garden leave, also known as gardening leave, is a period of time during which an employee is required to stay away from work, typically after they've resigned or been terminated. During this time, the employee remains employed by the company but is not expected to perform any work.
Why is there garden leave? ›
Following the resignation or dismissal of an employee, an employer may decide to place the employee on garden leave. The primary reason for doing so is to safeguard against possible detrimental actions or behavior that the employee might indulge in during their notice period.
Is Dan Ashworth still at Newcastle? ›
Newcastle pull off deal without Dan Ashworth as Manchester United frustrated - Chronicle Live.
