The message is said to “make it clear” he wanted to accept the opportunity of becoming Manchester United’s sporting director. Ashworth, 53, has been on gardening leave since stepping down as Newcastle’s sporting director on Feb 18, having informed the Tyneside club he was interested in a move to Old Trafford.
The email discovery will only serve to heighten tensions behind the scenes, with The Telegraph reporting three weeks ago how Ashworth was set to take Newcastle to arbitration in an attempt to force through the move amid an increasingly acrimonious stand-off. Initially, Sir Jim Ratcliffe offered just over £2 million as compensation, which was dismissed out of hand.
Newcastle are seen as likely to be willing to compromise on initial demands of £20 million, however. One source said the email showing Ashworth was tapped up dramatically strengthens Newcastle’s hand although legal options will also be looked at. Ashworth declined to comment when contacted by The Telegraph.
The Old Trafford hierarchy feel their approach for Ashworth is no different to the way Newcastle pursued the former Football Association technical director when he was at Brighton and have been surprised by the Tyneside club’s financial demands.
Privately, United, who are operating to a tight budget this summer, feel that the extra £10 million-plus it might take solely to shorten Ashworth’s gardening leave would be better invested in playing talent. Ratcliffe has been critical publicly of Newcastle’s positioning and their determination to hold Ashworth to the full length of his gardening leave, which is thought to run until late next year, unless their demands are met in full.
Speaking in February, Ratcliffe, who has assumed complete control of football operations at United as part of his £1.3 billion deal for a 27.7 per cent stake in the club, said: “I think Dan Ashworth is clearly one of the top sporting directors in the world, I’ve no doubt. “He’s a very capable person. He’s interested in the Manchester United job because it’s probably the biggest sporting director job in the world just now, with the biggest challenge. “We’ve obviously had words with Newcastle.
They would clearly be disappointed to lose Dan. But what I do think is completely absurd is suggesting a man who is really good at his job sits in his garden for one and a half years.” Ratcliffe suggested Ashworth’s gardening leave term expires next year. United separately appointed Jason Wilcox as technical director last month.
The Premier League rule book states that each club, director and official should behave towards each other with the “utmost good faith” and it would be a breach if they were to “act dishonestly towards another club or engage in conduct that is intended to circumvent these rules”.