Dan Ashworth writes an open letter to Manchester United fans after leaving Newcastle United

Dan Ashworth was placed on gardening leave by owners Newcastle United on 19 February 2024.

This after the NUFC sporting director informed his bosses that he wants to join Manchester United.

Then there was the absolutely embarrassing behavior of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who gave numerous interviews. Crying that it was so unfair that Newcastle United would not turn around and allow Dan Ashworth to start work at Old Trafford straight away.

Newcastle United’s owners have refused to be bullied and have made Manchester United wait until they (NUFC) have their new sporting director in place to start work.

Paul Mitchell started work at Newcastle United the same week Dan Ashworth was allowed to start at Manchester United. In addition, the Man U owners were also forced to pay the compensation that Newcastle United was demanding before Ashworth could start his new job.

Now Dan Ashworth has written an open letter to Manchester United fans…

Manchester United Official Website -22nd July 2024:

Sporting director Dan Ashworth has penned a column for Manchester United’s 2024/25 yearbook, addressing fans for the first time and outlining his exciting vision for the club.

Here, you can read Ashworth’s notes in full…

“It’s one of my first opportunities to address Manchester United fans since I joined the club as sporting director on July 1, so I want to start by saying how delighted I am to be here.

“Although I grew up in Norfolk, I have always had a strong attachment to Manchester as my mum and dad were born in Middleton and my grandparents lived there all their lives.

“When I visited as a boy, my dad would take me to matches in Greater Manchester and I remember the excitement of my first visit to Old Trafford in the late 1970s, watching the likes of Lou Macari, Jimmy Nicholl and Arthur Albiston.

“I can’t claim to have been a partisan United fan – my dad enjoyed watching all the local teams – but I do remember the special buzz that always seemed to surround matches at Old Trafford and it’s something I’ve experienced for many times since then, in my time. career in football

“So it will be an incredibly proud moment to step into the home managers’ box for the first time when the Premier League season kicks off against Fulham on August 16. The off-season is always a time of reset for every club, but the sense of renewal has been particularly strong at Manchester United this summer as our new management structure takes shape.

“Omar Berrada started as CEO and Jason Wilcox as CTO and I can assure you that we lost no time in getting down to business. Our first big decision of the summer was to extend Erik ten Hag’s contract as men’s first team coach until June 2026, reflecting our strong belief in him as one of Europe’s leading coaches and the partner we want to continue working with get the team. back to expected levels.

“We are all clear that last season fell below the standards required in the Premier League and Champions League, but by winning the FA Cup in such impressive fashion, our players and staff have shown what they are capable of when everyone pulls together and perform. potential.

“Our collective challenge is to reach these levels much more consistently. It is my job, along with Jason, to create the right support structures and environment around Erik, the staff and the players to make this possible. Already, I can feel a strong sense of energy and determination around the group as players and staff return fresh from their breaks, including some exciting new additions to the squad and coaching staff.

“There are also changes to the physical environment at Carrington as work begins on the £50m redevelopment of the training ground over the course of the season – testament to our commitment to improving the club’s infrastructure.

“This will require some adaptation this season, but all our teams – men’s, women’s and Academy – will maintain access to high-quality facilities, with the promise of a fully refreshed, world-class site once the project is complete.

“Delivering a successful women’s team and a thriving and productive Academy are both key objectives of my job and I have solid experience in both areas. Women’s football has been a big part of my remit in previous roles with Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion and the FA, and it will be the same at Manchester United. Women’s football is undoubtedly the most exciting area of ​​growth in the global game and we want to be a part of it.

“Last season’s FA Cup win was a fantastic milestone as our first major women’s trophy and we want to build on that with Marc, his staff and the players. Youth development has also been a big part of my career and I see it as an essential element of success for any football club – but especially Manchester United, where homegrown players have such a rich history.

“The success of our Under 18s in the 2023/24 campaign bodes well for the next generation of male talent to come, and the same is true on the women’s side, with both the Under-21s and Under-16s finishing the season with trophies. Overall, my first impression is the breadth of opportunities available at Manchester United as we review and refresh all areas of the club.

“This remains one of the biggest football clubs in the world, but that is not our measure of success; the focus is on getting back to being among the best on the field. It won’t happen overnight, but together with Omar and his new management team, we won’t rest until we succeed.”