Journalist George Caulkin has revealed that there has been no movement over Dan Ashworth’s long-awaited arrival at Newcastle United.
It has been a whirlwind few months for Newcastle and PIF since they purchased the club last year – having survived relegation, sacked a manager and brought in a new one, while also seeing five players sign during the January transfer window.
However, one thing they still haven’t been able to do is bring in a sporting director, although Ashworth, formerly of Brighton & Hove Albion, is the man who will likely eventually land the coveted position once his period of gardening leave comes to an end later this year.
There were reports that an agreement could be made between Brighton and Newcastle to cut Ashworth’s gardening leave short, although that appears unlikely, according to Caulkin, with the club still insisting that the Magpies will be made to wait despite the transfer window fast approaching.
Speaking on the latest episode of Pod on the Tyne, he said: “We know about Dan Ashworth, who’s coming in as sporting director, but people around the club are still saying that won’t be until November, and of course, that’s something that really would help the club push on in terms of transfers, perhaps, but also about the sort of infrastructure of the club, how it starts making deals.”
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TIF Thoughts on Ashworth…
Ashworth is a well-respected person within football having helped oversee the Seagulls becoming a regular within the Premier League, as well as working within the FA to help establish foundations for what the national team is today, while also being tipped for a role with Manchester United in the past.
Ashworth would be coming in to replace Lee Charnley, who left the club last November and was the man conducting all parts of the business under Mike Ashley, so bringing in some like Ashworth, who brought in some top players on the south coast as well as helping to improve other areas of the club, such as the women’s team – who are now WSL regulars – will only help the Magpies.
Hopefully, waiting until November will not be of detriment to the team, but given their performance in the previous transfer window under Eddie Howe and PIF, perhaps those connected to the club shouldn’t be too concerned.