Ashworth wanting NUFC man at Man Utd contributed to his shock exit – report

Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe felt Dan Ashworth should have been much more assertive in targeting a new head coach and should have looked beyond those people he already knew having wanted Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe at Old Trafford, according to The Athletic.

The former Magpies sporting director only spent five months with the Red Devils after they waited five months to bring 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 not convinced the Newcastle boss was the best fit for the job.

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

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, but both parties have since gotten along.

Losing their manager during the season could have proven tricky for the Toons, but a woeful run which has seen the St James Park club win just two of their last 11 Premier League games has seen some fans calling for his head.