- Dan Ashworth was brutally sacked by Man United after just 159 days in the role
- The sporting director is now in discussions with the FA of a sensational return
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Dan Ashworth is closing in on a new role just three months after his abrupt exit from Manchester United, according to reports.
Ashworth, 54, was ruthlessly sacked by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos just 159 days into his tenure as Manchester United sporting director in December, having been informed of the club’s decision by chief executive Omar Berrada in the wake of their 3-2 defeat by Nottingham Forest.
Manchester United poached Ashworth from Newcastle United last February but were forced to wait for the sporting director to finish his gardening leave before joining the team at Old Trafford.
Now, according to The Telegraph, Ashworth is in talks over a stunning return to the FA, having previously been their director of elite development between 2012 and 2018 before moving to Brighton.
Should the senior role be agreed, the 54-year-old would oversee the FA’s new ‘St George’s Park 2.0 project’, which was announced by the governing body in February.
The three-year project plans to bring a ‘radical refurbishment’ to England’s training base, positively affecting both the men’s and women’s senior and junior teams.
Dan Ashworth is closing in on a new role three months after his abrupt exit from Man United
Ashworth is in talks over a stunning return to the FA – if he lands the role, the 54-year-old director would oversee the governing body’s new ‘St George’s Park 2.0 project’
The sporting director was brutally sacked by Manchester United after just 159 days in the post, having been poached initially from Newcastle (Pictured: Red Devils co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe)
Ashworth would also look closely to coach development amid growing concerns that there are only two English managers in the Premier League at the moment — Newcastle’s Eddie Howe and West Ham’s Graham Potter.
Talks with Ashworth began ahead of Thomas Tuchel’s first games in charge of England during the March international break.
Tuchel, who was appointed by FA chief executive Mark Bullingham and technical director John McDermott and began his role officially in January, guided the Three Lions to 2-0 and 3-0 wins against Albania and Latvia respectively at Wembley.
It is claimed that Ashworth’s potential appointment would have no direct bearing on McDermott’s role as technical director, with his position set to remain unchanged.
Kay Cossington, who currently works as England women’s technical director, is set to leave her role for a new challenge at the end of the year.
