Why did Manchester United's Sporting Director quit his role just after 5 months of appointment?

Dan Ashworth has officially departed from his position as Manchester United's sporting director, just five months after his appointment. The Athletic was the first to break the news on Sunday, confirming that Ashworth left the club following a brief tenure. He joined Manchester United after an extended period of gardening leave with Newcastle, for which the club reportedly paid around £3 million. 

Although Ashworth played an important role in the club’s summer recruitment efforts, it has been reported that Manchester United initiated his exit. However, all parties involved assert that the decision to part ways was ultimately mutual.

Dan Ashworth left United for 'unknown' yet mutual reasons 

There are several factors contributing to United's decision to part ways with Ashworth, which has been described as a mutual agreement. The recent management transition, spearheaded by Sir Dave Brailsford, has led to a reconfiguration of roles within the club. Ashworth was initially brought on board to oversee football performance recruitment and operations. Alongside him, Jason Wilcox joined as the technical director, indicating a fresh approach to strengthening the football department under the new leadership.

Ashworth was responsible for overseeing United's football performance, recruitment, and operations. His departure is being managed by chief executive Omar Berrada, who will now lead the search for his successor. It will be important for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS to identify a suitable replacement promptly to ensure a smooth transition.

Despite United's mammoth investment of around £200m ($280m) during the summer, the team faced challenges this season, leading to the decision to part ways with Erik ten Hag. Under the guidance of new manager Ruben Amorim, the team is still struggling to make an impact. Their last result was a 3-2 loss, marking their second consecutive defeat in the top flight.