Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos drove former Man Utd man ‘round the bend’ until he was relieved to be shown door

Former Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth was reportedly relieved to leave the club after being driven "round the bend" by the Ineos regime. Ashworth, who joined Manchester United from Newcastle United in July 2024, departed abruptly in December 2024 following disagreements over managerial appointments. Ashworth favored hiring Eddie Howe or Gareth Southgate rather than Ruben Amorim, whose arrival was spearheaded by chief executive Omar Berrada.

The revelations emerge as Manchester United officials prepare to sack manager Michael Carrick with the club sitting 18th in the Premier League. Carrick's impending dismissal follows a run of just four wins in 16 matches under director of football Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada, marking the first time in Manchester United's 148-year history that the club will dismiss two managers in one calendar year.