Ashworth wanting Newcastle manager at Man Utd contributed to his shock exit

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe felt Dan Ashworth should have been much more assertive in targeting a new manager, according to The Athletic.

He should have looked beyond those people he already knew, having wanted Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe at Old Trafford.

The former Magpies sporting director only spent five months with the Red Devils after they waited five months to bring him in from Newcastle, and reasons for his shock Man United exit have emerged.

Ratcliffe wanted to hear ideas from Ashworth when the search for a replacement for Erik ten Hag began, but the former Magpies chief did not provide clear, compelling arguments for who to bring in.

Howe was one of those he proposed due to his Premier League experience, but Ratcliffe wanted more decisiveness and a dynamic appointment.

The British billionaire wanted someone with a certain charisma and capable of handling the scrutiny that comes with managing Man Utd, and he was unconvinced the Newcastle boss was the best fit for the job.

Fulham boss Marco Silva, Brentford’s Thomas Frank and Graham Potter were also mentioned by Ashworth, but the club went for Ruben Amorim.

Ashworth had little input in the selection of the Portuguese, and Ratcliffe reacted badly when he proposed bringing in a data company to evaluate the candidates to replace Ten Hag, insisting it was Ashworth’s job to know such matters rather than outsource.

Howe was linked with an exit at Newcastle earlier in the campaign due to his tense relationship with sporting director Paul Mitchell at the time.

Losing Howe during the season could have proven tricky for Newcastle, but a woeful run of just two wins in their last 11 Premier League games has led to calls for him to be axed.