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Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s decision to sack former sporting director Dan Ashworth reportedly triggered a chain of events that left many staff members baffled.
In December last year, Ashworth shockingly left his position as United’s maiden sporting director after just five months at the club.
Seen as a statement signing by INEOS following their arrival, Ratcliffe spent considerable time and resources to pry Ashworth from Newcastle. Eventually, after months of tension, Ratcliffe got his man.
Ashworth’s responsibilities revolved around football performance and recruitment, and he reported to CEO Omar Berrada.
It was later revealed that Ashworth had clashed with key figures within United’s hierarchy, including Ratcliffe himself. The disagreements spanned several major issues, from transfer targets to the future of manager Erik ten Hag and potential successors to the Dutchman.
In a round of interviews earlier this year, Ratcliffe admitted that Ashworth’s appointment was a mistake.
Now, The Athletic have revealed that Ashworth’s departure sparked several role changes, including one that affected chief operating officer Collete Roche.
Initially focused on the business side of United, Roche was directed by Ratcliffe to take on responsibilities in football operations following Ashworth’s exit – a puzzling call considering that was not her area of expertise.
Laurie Whitwell explains, “Some people felt Ashworth could have continued in position, working quietly on Carrington business until the end of the season, when his departure, following five months anticipating his arrival at a cost of around £2.5million ($3.4m), would not have been as acutely embarrassing. Instead, Ashworth suffered the indignity of being led through Old Trafford’s press conference room by chief operating officer Collette Roche after Nottingham Forest had beaten United 3-2 in December.”
“Berrada and Wilcox, close after their time working together at Manchester City, gained status in the aftermath, while Roche’s role also changed, under Ratcliffe’s direction, shifting from a focus on stadium activities to football operations, such as first-team travel and logistics.”
“Some thought the switch was curious given Roche’s role at United, since being hired from Manchester Airports Group in 2018, had been on the business side of the club, while David Harrison was already director of football operations.”
However, there was a silver lining for Roche. The shift in responsibilities allowed her to broaden her qualifications, and she was previously linked with the chief executive role at Newcastle.
The Athletic note that Roche has returned to focusing on the new stadium project, while United plan to appoint someone to support Wilcox in overseeing football operations.
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