Why Dan Ashworth is perfect to become Man United's sporting director

The first thing to know about Dan Ashworth is that his leadership style is not one of an iron fist.

'At none of the places I've been has it been "Dan Ashworth's philosophy",' he told the Training Ground Guru podcast in 2020. 'My principles are not autocratic. I don't believe in telling people, "this is how we're going to be doing it," I believe in collaboration.'

It is easy to see why Manchester United are smitten on the affable former PE teacher.

Ashworth's track record speaks for itself: helping West Brom get into the Premier League, devising the 'England DNA' model, before laying the foundations for Brighton and Newcastle to crack European football.

He's got his faults like any executive - the handling of the scandal involving Mark Sampson and Eni Aluko is a mark against his name - but Ashworth would be a perfect appointment as Manchester United's inaugural sporting director - and INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe know it.

Ashworth, like many youngsters, harboured the football dream in his teenage years, doing his best to make the grade as a right back in Norwich City's academy.

He was released at 17 and went on to spend a season in non-league, joining Eastbourne Town back in 1989.

But Ashworth is smart enough to know when to change path and after dropping down to semi-pro football he combined work as a PE teacher at Darrick Wood School in Orpington with playing for St Leonards.

After a stint Stateside coaching at West Florida Fury he returned to a teaching gig in England while playing for Wisbech Town. It was alongside his teaching that he honed his knowledge further, going on to complete the UEFA Pro Licence.

Ashworth’s influence in football, ever since he was released by Norwich, was also sign-posted to come off the pitch in an