After being appointed as the sporting director of Man United, Dan Ashworth has sent his first letter to the team’s supporters.
At the beginning of the month, United announced Ashworth’s appointment following a protracted dispute with Newcastle on a compensation package.
By luring him away from St. James’ Park for an estimated £2.5 million, the Red Devils completed Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s revamped hierarchy.
Now that he’s started working at Old Trafford, he has openly spoken with United supporters about his precise job and the responsibilities.
Ashworth mentioned his history with the club and detailed the work the club’s hierarchy have done so far.
‘This is one of my first opportunities to address Manchester United fans since joining the club as sporting director on 1 July, so I want to start by saying how delighted I am to be here.’ Ashworth said in a statement on the club’s website.
‘Although I grew up in Norfolk, I’ve always had a strong attachment with Manchester because my mum and dad were born in Middleton and my grandparents lived their whole lives there.
‘When I visited as a boy, my dad would take me to games across Greater Manchester and I remember the thrill 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 remember the special buzz that always seemed to surround games at Old Trafford, and it’s something I have experienced many times since during my career in football.’
‘It’s going to be an incredibly proud moment entering the directors’ box on the home side for the first time when the Premier League season gets underway against Fulham on August 16.
‘The close season is always a reset moment for every club, but the sense of renewal has been particularly strong at Manchester United this summer as our new leadership structure takes shape.
‘Omar Berrada has started as chief executive, and Jason Wilcox as technical director, and I can assure you that we have lost no time in getting to work.
‘Our first big decision of the summer was to extend Erik ten Hag’s contract as men’s first-team manager to June 2026, reflecting our strong belief in him as one of Europe’s top coaches, and the partner we want to continue working with to get the team back to the levels expected.
‘We are all clear that last season fell below the required standards in the Premier League and Champions League but, by winning the FA Cup in such impressive fashion, our players and staff showed what they are capable of when everyone pulls together and performs to their potential.
Ashworth was criticial of Man United’s performance last season in the Premier League and the Champions League but praised the players for winning the FA Cup in the end and finishing the season with silverware.
He expressed the club’s desire to focus on the women’s team and the academy, describing both of them as key objectives of his job.
Dan Ashworth is off to an ideal start at Man United
The former Newcastle United director mentioned the need for world class facilities for all levels of teams to be provided at the club.
The 53-year-old mentioned the club’s focus on youth development and how important it is to develop young talent.
Ashworth has started brilliantly by helping the club seal the signing of a striker and a defender already this summer and there is more to come from the sporting director.
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