Newcastle United journalist Liam Kennedy has been discussing Dan Ashworth and his reported pending appointment at the club.
With a search for a new director of football that has stretched back since as far back as November when the club was going through their takeover and the appointment of Eddie Howe as manager, it appears as though Newcastle have finally found their man.
It is being reported that Ashworth is set to take on the role at St. James’ Park, although the appointment won’t be able to happen straight away, as he is set to be on ‘a period of gardening leave’.
Speaking about the issue on the latest edition of NUFC Matters, Kennedy discussed what the issue was with regards to him being on gardening leave, before claiming what he felt the club would be like when Ashworth is able to take on the role properly.
He said: “Yes, he’s going to have that gardening leave. I’ve heard various things that his contract might even see him go all the way to the end of the season potentially before he’s able to join Newcastle United. I haven’t had official confirmation on that, but there has been sort of words on the rumour mill that this gardening leave thing might last for some time.
“I hope it doesn’t. It’d be nice to get him in there and get him working and pushing towards the summer. The summer could be transformative, Newcastle United could go and sign two or three more Bruno Guimaraeses, and then suddenly Newcastle may become a force in the Premier League.”
TIF Thoughts on Liam Kennedy’s comments about Dan Ashworth and Newcastle United…
Will Newcastle be relegated?
Yes!
No!
You would hope that his gardening leave is as short as possible if you are Newcastle United, because the sooner he is actually in the building, the sooner he can start to get things organised and start to truly get things planned when it comes to transfers.
Whilst he can obviously do some of the work whilst he is waiting to be properly introduced to the team at Newcastle, it just won’t be the same whilst there are some limitations to the work that he’s able to do whilst on gardening leave.
And given how crucial this summer is set to be whether they stay in the Premier League or not, you would imagine that the club will need things to run as smoothly as possible, so the sooner that he is through the door, the better.
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