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6 months ago
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A very enjoyable exclusive (see below) concerning Dan Ashworth and his intended move to Manchester United.
The report comes from The Mail on Tuesday night.
It was just over 13 weeks ago on 19 February 2024 that Newcastle United officially announced (also below) that Dan Ashworth had been put on gardening leave, after he made clear he was insistent on working at Manchester United instead.
Now this exclusive from The Mail has seen them report the existence of a series of emails that Dan Ashworth blundered with, back in early February 2024, before he informed Newcastle United he was wanting to leave.
The report saying that Ashworth also sent a copy of this series of emails to his own official Newcastle United email account, which meant the club discovered what he was up to, in terms of wanting to join Manchester United, as well as potentially breaking confidentiality regarding both Brighton and Newcastle United with other comments in the email exchange.
The Mail report – 21 May 2024:
‘Dan Ashworth sent an email to a Newcastle United address inadvertently revealing he was being tapped up by incoming Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada, who was still on gardening leave from Manchester City.
It is an embarrassing blunder and error of judgement on the part of the two men who will be charged with restructuring Man United by new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and could be looked at by the Premier League.
We can reveal the pair had a conversation in early February and Ashworth followed that up by sending an email to Berrada – at an INEOS account – making it clear he wanted to accept the opportunity of becoming Man United’s sporting director.
However, Ashworth sent a blind copy to his own Newcastle email address, clumsily disclosing to the club the covert negotiations with Berrada. Man United, at this point, had not informed Newcastle of their interest in Ashworth.
Berrada does not officially start at Old Trafford until July 13 and he had been on gardening leave from Man City for less than a month when engaging with Ashworth, potentially breaching the terms of his contract.
Ashworth, we understand, also disclosed details to Berrada of the agreement between Newcastle and Brighton that took him to St James’ Park in the summer of 2022. This would likely be a breach of confidentiality to each of Newcastle and Brighton.
The 53-year-old eventually informed Newcastle of his wish to join Man United on February 18 and was placed on gardening leave, a period that Ratcliffe has suggested expires towards the end of 2025.
Man United have so far not made an acceptable offer to Newcastle to bring forward that date and Ashworth is reportedly set to take the club to arbitration in a bid to force through his move.’
Newcastle United official announcement – 19 February 2024:
Newcastle United can announce that Dan Ashworth has commenced a period of gardening leave.
Darren Eales, Newcastle United 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.”

 
