Journalist Dean Jones provided an update on Newcastle United director Dan Ashworth, who is still wanted by Manchester United’s new owners.
It’s been weeks since Manchester United first expressed an interest in Ashworth, who has stated that he is content in his current post at Newcastle, but things might change.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has claimed that Ashworth is ‘still the favourite’ to take the Man United job and that he expects the move to happen at some point in the future.
Newcastle could still lose Ashworth this season
At first it did look like everything pointed to Ashworth’s departure given his links to David Brailsford who is helping Jim Ratcliffe in his takeover of Man United that still has not yet been ratified by the Premier League.
In the following weeks, however, Ashworth made it clear that he was committed to Newcastle, which was then supported by CEO Darren Eales in the interview he did in January.
Ashworth has already worked so hard to help get the club to where it is now, making key decision behind the scenes, but there is still so much more to do for this long-term plan that the owners have.
To lose him this season would be a very disappointing departure, he’s probably the most important figure outside of Newcastle’s first team and will have a huge impact on the club’s future.
On Ashworth, Jones said: “It’s hard to know exactly when they’re going to make their move, because I’ve expected it about three times already. The last update I had in January was that it would be following on the back of the transfer window.
“So hopefully, for United fans, they should be hearing a bit more about this situation pretty soon. I haven’t heard anything different to the fact that Dan Ashworth is still in a really strong position for the job. He was still the favourite the last time I checked in on this a week ago. So I would still consider that is the case.”
Newcastle risk taking a huge step back
In just over two years since the PIF-backed takeover was completed, Newcastle have already come so far with the help of Ashworth and others working hard behind the scenes.
Not only have the first-team performances dramatically improved, but the academy looks a lot healthier and the plans to build a completely new training ground are very promising signs for a supporter of the club.
Newcastle have already made it clear how much importance they place on finding young talent with some of their recent signings like Yankuba Minteh and Alfie Harrison, and it will be interesting to see how their careers at the club pan out.
To lose the man who has helped put all of this together you’d expect would be a huge step back and the club would have to act quickly to find someone else to keep it all running smoothly.
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