February 19th 2024.
Dan Ashworth, a 52-year-old sporting director, recently expressed his desire to join Manchester United. This news did not sit well with his current club, Newcastle United, who have now blocked his access to their internal database. This move has caused quite a stir, with Newcastle being furious at the way Manchester United has gone about trying to acquire Ashworth's services.
The Magpies were informed of Ashworth's intentions on Sunday, but the Red Devils have yet to make an official approach. This has only added to Newcastle's frustration. In response, they have placed Ashworth on gardening leave and are demanding a hefty compensation package of around £20m to shorten his notice period of 20 months. This figure has been deemed excessive by Sir Jim Ratcliffe's side, but it is clear that Newcastle are not pleased with the way things have unfolded.
According to reports from the Times, Ashworth has been denied access to Newcastle's internal programmes, which means he can no longer view their database or scouting reports. The club's concern is that once Ashworth makes the move to Old Trafford, he will disclose their confidential information to Manchester United. This fear was also echoed by Newcastle's head coach, Eddie Howe, last Friday when he said, "He [Dan] is in a position of power, with a lot of intelligence and information [on transfers]. That's why it's a slightly unusual situation. The concerns are relevant. At some stage, there has to be a line drawn and things have to move forward."
It is clear that there is tension between the two clubs, with Newcastle feeling betrayed by Ashworth's decision to leave and join their rivals. They are determined to protect their interests and have taken steps to do so. Manchester United, on the other hand, have remained quiet and have not yet made an official move for Ashworth. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how things will play out. For now, all we can do is wait and see. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.
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