After less than two years, Dan Ashworth is finished as Newcastle United’s sporting director.
The Magpies worked incredibly hard to bring him to St James’ Park in 2022, snapping up the former FA chief from Brighton And Hove Albion.
Dan Ashworth was viewed as a landmark appointment by the Toon owners, with the 52-year-old seen as the man who would oversee years of sustained success on Tyneside.
Less than two years after starting the job, it has come to an end. Interest from Manchester United has led to Newcastle putting Ashworth on gardening leave. He will be taking over at Old Trafford, but when that happens remains to be seen. If Man United do not agree to pay £20million in compensation, it could be a long time before he starts his new role.
But as Ashworth looks towards a new chapter in Manchester, just how has his work been viewed in Newcastle? The Telegraph have the answer.
How Newcastle have viewed Dan Ashworth’s work since 2022
According to the Telegraph, there is frustration from Newcastle United that Ashworth is leaving for Man United, although it is stressed that there has been no fallout between the two parties.
However, the Telegraph add that there is a belief that Ashworth has not achieved what he told the club he would when they decided to hire him in 2022.
It remains to be seen what those failed objectives are, and why he was unable to achieve them.
It is difficult to really judge Ashworth’s time at Newcastle, as most of his work is unseen. His role was behind the scenes at St James’ Park, acting as the spoke of the wheel and ensuring every department was pulling in the same direction.
Given that he is leaving after less than two years, it will always be a case of unfinished business between Dan Ashworth and Newcastle United – a story of what might have been.
But he is taking his talents elsewhere, and Newcastle now have the chance to appoint someone who is capable of seeing out the job he started.
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