Arsenal have added Dan Ashworth to a listing of potential candidates for his or her vacant sporting director place following his sudden departure from Manchester United, sources have instructed ESPN.
United confirmed on Sunday that Ashworth had left the membership after solely 5 months within the job with sources suggesting the 53-year-old was concerned a series of disagreements with senior figures at the club.
Ashworth’s status has consequently suffered a blow however he nonetheless stays extremely regarded following profitable spells with the Football Association (FA), Brighton and Newcastle United.
Prior to that, Ashworth additionally labored with Arsenal managing director Richard Garlick at West Bromwich Albion.
Garlick was West Brom’s authorized director-secretary however stepped as much as turn into sporting and technical director in 2013 following Ashworth’s departure to the FA.
Sources added that the pair loved a detailed working relationship on the time. Garlick is now main Arsenal’s seek for a sporting director after Edu resigned from his place final month.
The Brazilian has agreed a deal in principle to spearhead Nottingham Forest proprietor Evangelos Marinakis’ multi-club group and ESPN reported on the time that many Arsenal employees had been shocked by his resolution to stroll away.
Arsenal consequently had no succession plan in place.
Assistant technical director Jason Ayto has stepped up within the interim interval with Garlick additionally capable of assist him within the January switch window.
With January anticipated to be a quiet month for Arsenal barring any unexpected accidents or market alternatives, the membership don’t really feel below any pressing stress to interchange Edu — who’s on gardening go away for six months — however Ashworth’s availability is of clear curiosity given each his pedigree and prior historical past with Garlick.
United declined to substantiate whether or not Ashworth had been positioned on gardening go away or if there was every other authorized problem stopping him from taking one other job.
Edu’s successor shall be chosen by an govt workforce together with Garlick, supervisor Mikel Arteta, board member Tim Lewis and co-chair Josh Kroenke.
Sources have instructed ESPN that Arsenal will proceed to comply with a diligent course of by way of narrowing down candidates and figuring out the precise character profile earlier than formally approaching any particular person.
Candidates from the world over shall be thought-about and there’s an acknowledgment that Edu’s background as a former Arsenal participant and member of the Invincibles squad shall be tough to duplicate.
