Gary Neville issues warning over Ashworth

Gary Neville issues warning over Ashworth

The former Man United captain says Ashworth is just the second of four changes Sir Jim Ratcliffe might be looking to make, with a swap of manager potentially on his to-do list
Gary Neville

Gary Neville has suggested Man United are yet to find the ‘best coach’
Gary Neville says Manchester United are yet to source the best coach, meaning Erik ten Hag risks being replaced as Sir Jim Ratcliffe works through his overhaul of the club.

Ratcliffe is thought to be a backer of Ten Hag, who has earned time in the bank due to last season’s top-four and League Cup successes. The Dutchman has come under pressure this time around amid a poor campaign with the FA Cup being the only realistic chance of silverware.

Ratcliffe had his £1.3billion minority investment ratified by the Premier League this week but has already been doing groundwork. INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford has been conducting an extensive audit of the club and is expected to make some boardroom recommendations upon its conclusion.

The club have already secured the appointment of Omar Berrada as the new CEO following Richard Arnold’s exit in December and now Ratcliffe is targeting Dan Ashworth for a new sporting director role, with the Newcastle United chief keen to move to Old Trafford.

Neville says his arrival would tick off the second task in a four-point list that will rejuvenate the foundations of the club. He says United need a new head of recruitment and also perhaps a new manager.

Speaking on the Stick To Football podcast, Neville explained: “I’ve no doubt that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is trusting in Sir Dave Brailsford in finding the best CEO, the best sporting director, the best head of recruitment and the best coach.

“It looks like they’ve got the first two, and the two yet to be sorted is the head of recruitment and the best coach, but they’re doing it one by one. I suspect that if Dan Ashworth comes in, he’ll want authority at the club to be able to make decisions.”

Ashworth has an industry-acclaimed reputation having succeeded in roles at the Football Association, Brighton & Hove Albion and now Newcastle. Neville believes his arrival would help reset and raise club mindsets given his past work.

He said: “I couldn’t believe it when Dan Ashworth left the FA [in 2018] and went to Brighton [in 2019] as that didn’t seem a step up, but then we saw what he did there, and then Newcastle United is a step up and what he’s done there in terms of managing expectations.

“I’m not saying Dan is going to be a success at Manchester United, but if you’ve got the guy in from Manchester City [Berrada] and now Dan Ashworth, at least you’ve got people in roles that belong, as they’ve not had that in the last 10 years.

“If Dan does come in, I do think there’s a chance that the performance mentality will improve, the mentality that they do have, could run through the club quite quickly.”

Ten Hag has welcomed the prospect of Ashworth joining the boardroom, telling reporters on Thursday: “In a club as Manchester United you can’t do everything alone, it is impossible, you need very good people around you.”