Manchester United have made a number of backroom appointments under Ineos but Dan Ashworth is now plotting another move.
Ineos and Sir Jim Ratcliffe were always going to shake things up as they arrived at Manchester United.
Fans wanted new signings but there have been a whole host of changes behind the scenes.
Dan Ashworth finally arrived from Newcastle United whilst Jason Wilcox and Christopher Vivell also joined the club’s recruitment team.
Coaching changes have materialised too with Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy both moving on this summer.
Go Ahed Eagles boss Rene Hake joined alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy as the former United striker made a big return to Old Trafford.
Michael Appleton wanted at Manchester United
Lillestrom boss Andreas Georgson has now joined United too with Erik ten Hag surrounded by an almost entirely new team.
The new Premier League season is drawing ever closer but United ay still make another move.
The Sun’s Alan Nixon claims that United are now ready to bring Michael Appleton back to the club.
It’s suggested that Appleton is being lined up to join United’s backroom staff with a real focus on loan moves.
Les Parry currently takes charge of United’s loan moves, attempting to find ideal clubs for youngsters and monitoring their progress.
Appleton is now being lined up to take over though, moving from coaching into more of an ‘administrative’ role.
The report claims that Appleton not only has a great knowledge of United’s young players and has contacts to find them ideal loan moves.
Joe Hugill has just joined Wigan Athletic on loan but Appleton may help initiate similar move.
Michael Appleton profiled
Appleton hails from Salford and grew up supporting United before joining the club’s ranks as a youngster.
After moving from being a striker to becoming a midfielder, Appleton headed on loan to the likes of Wimbledon, Lincoln City and Grimsby Town.
Preston North End pounced to sign Appleton permanently in 1997 and he impressed under David Moyes.
West Bromwich Albion landed Appleton in 2001 but injuries cut his career short at the age of just 27.
That paved the way for Appleton to become a coach and moved up from the youth team to the senior side in 2009.
Appleton crossed paths with Ashworth at The Hawthorns with Appleton highly regard before taking his first managerial job at Portsmouth in 2011.
The 48-year-old has also taken charge of Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers, Oxford United, Lincoln City, Blackpool and, most recently, Charlton Athletic.
Sir Alex Ferguson actually slammed Appleton for taking ill-advised jobs, with Appleton accepting that the Scot was right in the end.
“He had a right pop at me, and rightly so,” said Appleton. “I hadn’t done due diligence before taking the jobs. I get it now, but at the time it was a bit ‘Bloody hell!’ I hadn’t played under him for a long time, but he clearly had a lot of respect, to ask for a meeting and tell me some things. I needed to start making better decisions,” he added.
Appleton has been highly regarded as a coach with the likes of West Brom and Leicester City over the years and Ashworth is now seemingly keen on a reunion.
Appleton would no doubt jump at the chance to join his boyhood club and a deal could now be in the pipeline.
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