NEWCASTLE UNITED have started their search for a new Sporting Director after confirming that Dan Ashworth has been placed on gardening leave by the club.
Manchester United want the 52-year-old to head up their football operation and Ashworth has told Newcastle United he wants to leave.
“We are naturally disappointed that Dan has chosen to leave, but our exciting journey doesn’t stop and the process to recruit a new sporting director will begin immediately,” stated Darren Eales, CEO of Newcastle. We appreciate Dan’s contributions at Newcastle United and send our best wishes for the future to him and his family.”
June 2022 saw Ashworth’s official signing with the Magpies following an agreement on a compensation package with his previous team, Brighton. Ashworth is a major hire for INEOS, the football management company that has acquired a 25% share in Manchester United.
Dave Brailsford, the INEOS Director of Sport, has a long-standing relationship with the Newcastle man, who is the most respected Sporting Director in English football.
When the position was still in its infancy, Ashworth began his career with West Brom as a Technical Director. Through astute hiring and development of the Academy and backroom staff, he helped to solidify the team’s Premier League status.
He worked with the FA for six years, first as Director of Elite Development and then as Technical Director. He was responsible for the launch of the England DNA, improved coaching services, recruited top-tier support personnel for all age groups, and managed the construction of St. George’s Park.
Under his leadership, the U19 team won the Euros, the U-17 and U20 teams won their respective World Cups, and the senior men, captained by Gareth Southgate, advanced to both the Euro 2020 final and the 2018 World Cup semifinals.
Ashworth oversaw “overarching sporting strategy, football development, and recruitment at all age levels” at Newcastle.
When he was still at Brighton, Ashworth made the famous comment that the Sporting Director position is like being “in the middle of a wheel, bring together seven departments, connecting those spokes” in an interview on Episode #20 of the TGG Podcast.
In addition, he said, “You keep the wheels turning and find a replacement when one of those head of departments leaves.” The first-team manager has historically had the highest turnover rate. They live about 14 months on average in this country.
“I believe that a Technical Director’s primary responsibility is to oversee the football team’s medium- to long-term interests. Instead than focusing on the immediate goal of “getting a result against Liverpool tomorrow,” the team is trying to ensure that its other departments are in place for the club’s long-term prosperity.
“The link from the boardroom to the pitch is another crucial element. It’s crucial that we communicate that every club has a CEO, a chairman, a budget, and philosophies and beliefs. This applies to both club values and making sure the money is used wisely.
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