LONDON: Dan Ashworth has left Manchester United after only five months as sporting director in the wake of the 3-2 home defeat by Nottingham Forest. He carries the can for the continuance of Erik ten Hag and heavy summer spending agreed with the Dutchman. Ten Hag was sacked on October 28.

His departure may serve as a warning for Ruben Amorim that the patience of part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is not infinite.

Ashworth, 53, joined United only on July 1 after a long period of gardening leave after being poached from Newcastle. The departure, by reported mutual agreement, of the £3m appointment is a major embarrassment for Ratcliffe.

United’s problem may have been too many chiefs in the new structure with Ashworth, technical director Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada working alongside Ratcliffe’s own advisers led by Sir Dave Brailsford.

Ashworth’s exit was agreed with Berrada, who he reported into, at a meeting at Old Trafford after Saturday’s game. Ratcliffe was also involved in the decision.

Ashworth had been in charge of overall football performance, operations and recruitment with Wilcox reporting into him. His handiwork was upfront in the ultimately mistaken decision to retain Erik ten Hag who was sacked in October at the price of £10m in compensation. Between them they had spent around £180m on Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui.

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