Dan Ashworth set to become Newcastle’s new sporting director
Former Brighton technical director Dan Ashworth is Newcastle’s new sporting director (Gareth Fuller/PA)
Dan Ashworth is to become Newcastle’s new sporting director after the Magpies finally got their man.
Amanda Staveley’s 80 per cent Saudi-backed consortium identified the former Football Association technical director as a key figure in their ambitious plans for the Tyneside club as they completed their takeover at St James’ Park in October last year, but have had to remain patient in their pursuit.
Ashworth resigned from a similar role at Brighton in February with the Seagulls confirming he had done so to take up a position at another Premier League club, but insisted he would see out “an extended period of gardening leave” in line with his existing contract.
We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity.
Protracted negotiations have taken place since amid reports that the south coast club wanted £5million in compensation to release him from his contractual obligations, but a deal has now been struck.
A Newcastle statement said: “Newcastle United are delighted to announce that Dan Ashworth will become the club’s sporting director after an agreement was reached with Brighton & Hove Albion to release him from his current contractual obligations with immediate effect.
“The terms of this agreement will remain confidential between the clubs and are subject to Premier League approval.
“Newcastle United will issue further information following the relevant approval process.”
We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity.
The 51-year-old joined Brighton in 2018 with an impressive reputation after his spell with the FA and helped the club to establish itself in the Premier League.
His resignation was greeted with disappointment, but his former employers thanked him for his contribution as they confirmed his departure.
A Brighton statement said: “Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United have reached an agreement for the immediate release of Dan Ashworth from his contractual obligations at Brighton.
“The terms of this agreement, which is subject to regulatory approval, will remain confidential between the clubs.
“We would like to thank Dan for his services and wish him well for the future.”
Dan Ashworth will work with Newcastle boss Eddie Howe (pictured) as they attempt to build for a brighter future on Tyneside (Mike Egerton/PA)
Ashworth’s impending arrival on Tyneside could hardly be better timed with the Magpies hoping to build upon a successful January transfer window, during which they invested more than £90million in Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn and loan signing Matt Targett, to fuel a climb away from the relegation zone.
Head coach Eddie Howe is keen to bolster his squad once again in an attempt to improve upon an 11th-place finish and has already indicated his willingness to work with a sporting director.
Howe said recently: “We have a lot of improving to do behind the scenes to get to be the club that we want to be. That’s in all areas.
“We want to build the club and, to do that, you need the right people and the right appointments to happen.”
Today's Headlines
Con-Airport | Hilarious Tiktok video depicting cartoon Conor McGregor ‘sorting out’ airport queues goes viral
Bar assault | Mum who glassed woman in the face over claims she had affair with her husband avoids jail
cartel plot | Kinahan cartel hitman Imre Arakas suspected of the murder of UK mobster John ‘Goldfinger’ Palmer
'Switching Teams' | Amber Gill says men make her 'feel ill' after last night's Love Island
'left to die' | Three month jail sentence for woman who put her baby in a bin after giving birth
Flight Risk | Vogue Williams admits flying with 3 kids left her ‘shook’
Losing Hope | Irish Love Island star Dami Hope branded a ‘villain’ as Casa Amor kiss shocks viewers
joint action | Gardaí arrest woman at Dublin Airport over human trafficking concerns
battle of the boyne | Two-county car chase ends after young fugitives tried to swim across river Boyne
Court challenge | Gerry Hutch and Jonathan Dowdall claim non-jury trials over Regency murder are ‘unlawful’