Eddie Howe fears Dan Ashworth will provide Manchester United with inside information about Newcastle United’s transfer plans, key players and tactical secrets.
The Old Trafford club are keen to poach Newcastle’s sporting director and Ashworth appears to want to leave, but compensation needs to be resolved and no contract has been signed, so recruitment meetings with scouts have been held. He continues to attend, including attending.
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“Recruiting is a 365-day-a-year job,” Howe says. “It never sleeps and certainly Dan is in a position of power and he has a lot of intelligence and information. That’s why this is a bit of an unusual situation.”
The Newcastle manager has therefore agreed to offer Manchester United at least £10m as he seeks to reduce a clause in Ashworth’s contract that allegedly prevents the former Football Association technical director from carrying out his duties. They hope for a quick resolution to the long-discussed transfer, which is expected to come with compensation. After leaving Tyneside I started another job for 12 months.
“I think we need an immediate solution,” Howe said. He has not added the 52-year-old Ashworth to his inner circle, despite having a good working relationship with him. “It’s better for everyone if that happens.”
Ashworth has not publicly said he wants to leave, but the Newcastle manager said “no” when asked if Ashworth had said he wanted to stay.
Howe suggested Ashworth had not had time to make his mark at Newcastle since joining from Brighton 20 months ago. “It’s a difficult job because when you’re in that role, you think you have to live long to actually see the fruits of your labor,” the manager said. “It’s kind of a long-term position and I think the people who have done the best in the Premier League so far have always had periods of real stability, because at any football club there’s no change. Because it takes a long time. To make that process happen your way.” I hope that’s the case.
“Dan’s time here was relatively short, but Newcastle is a huge football club and will continue to function very efficiently whoever is here. We have talented people that make things run very smoothly. The board has run the club really well since they came to the football club.”
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Howe praised Ashworth for resisting the temptation to change too quickly. “Dan has kept the old system in place and we are still working as we did during his first transfer window.” [which predated Ashworth’s arrival],” he said. “Our recruiting efforts have been very good, so it won’t affect us.”
