Erik ten Hag’s role as Manchester United manager is subject of continued scrutiny after a poor start to the season.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made clear he plans to devolve responsibility for the decision down to Manchester United’s senior management team, rather than make the call himself.
Sporting director Dan Ashworth is one of the key figures responsible for making the decision. Ashworth arrived at the club in July, beginning his role after months of negotiations.
By this time the decision had already been made to keep Erik ten Hag as manager following an end of season review.
Dan Ashworth has been involved in high profile decisions before, but has not been involved in firing a manager since 2019.
His time at Newcastle was pretty serene, with Steve Bruce dismissed prior to his arrival and successor Eddie Howe still remaining in post.
The prospect of Erik ten Hag outlasting Ashworth at Manchester United look extremely slim, with just two wins from the opening seven Premier League games.
Ashworth involved in Brighton dismissal
The last time Dan Ashworth was involved in sacking a manager was at Brighton and Hove Albion back in 2019, with Chris Hughton dismissed.
Brighton appointed Ashworth as technical director in February 2019, and at the time he claimed, via BBC Sport: “My job is to try and keep the first-team manager in a job for as long as possible.”
Chris Hughton was fired at the end of the season following an end of year review led by Brighton chief Tony Bloom, with Ashworth involved in an advisory role.
The Sun reported Ashworth feared going into another transfer window with Chris Hughton at the helm, and claimed he had already begun lining up Graham Potter as his replacement prior to the sacking.
When Hughton was fired, the The Guardian reported: “Whoever replaces Hughton will be expected to create a side that can control games.”
Brighton and Ashworth wanted a more attacking and identifiable brand of football, that Graham Potter was able to provide.
The Telegraph reported: “Brighton’s line of reasoning is that they had a good manager but wanted better on the pitch. They have convinced themselves that a change will free-up the team to advance beyond pragmatism and play more adventurously.”
Warnings for Erik ten Hag
Dan Ashworth is part of a committee tasked with reaching a decision on Manchester United manager Dan Ashworth, rather than taking a choice single-handedly. And this fits with his role at Brighton.
Ineos made their decision in an end-of-year review. Ashworth had not begun his role at United when the review into Ten Hag took place in June.
Amid poor form, Manchester United may not have until next summer to reach a decision on Erik ten Hag, even if that would be the preference, to review at the end of 2024/25.
Manchester United’s signings in the summer are yet to make a real impact – and if Erik ten Hag cannot get a tune out of them, Dan Ashworth may recommend to find a manager who can.
One of the big issues for Erik ten Hag has also been his Manchester United side struggling to make a firm impact on games, often overrun, playing transition football, rather than dominating matches.
This was one of the key targets Ashworth wanted to action when the Brighton change was recommended, for the team to start playing a better brand of football. Erik ten Hag is in his third year at the club and is yet to implement a winning, dominant style of play.
Back in July, Ashworth told United’s official website, Ashworth stated: “We are all clear that last season fell below the required standards in the Premier League and Champions League.”
United cannot say they have moved forwards. The league table does not lie, and Erik ten Hag is a man under pressure.
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