Dan Ashworth was not granted an exit out of Old Trafford by the usual route and instead had to run the gauntlet through the directors' lounge and press conference room.
Dan Ashworth followed Collette Roche through the press conference room twenty minutes after full-time on Saturday. Ms Roche, the chief operating officer, offered a polite “hello” to a colleague sitting in the front row. The grim-faced Ashworth avoided eye contact and did not break his stride.
Ashworth, who started on July 1, and chief executive Omar Berrada chose a careful time to field questions from those of us who cover United minutely - two Premier League games into the season and before kick-off against Liverpool. Five hours after they held court with us, United’s unravelling had begun with a 3-0 thumping.
Ashworth’s sudden departure is another blotch on the Ineos copybook. They identified Ashworth as the best-in-class pick for sporting director last year and waited it out with Newcastle United over several months while he was on gardening leave. Some have speculated how long Berrada will last after the unprecedented ticket price hikes and now the sudden departure of Ashworth. Berrada, Ashworth and chief communications officer Toby Craig arrived in the same vehicle at Ipswich two weeks ago.
Ashworth was supposed to lead the structure. He admitted the summer was an eye-opener and he had planned to scrutinise various departments from September. Ineos will come under the most scrutiny. Berrada, sat to Ashworth's right, conceded United would "make mistakes". He wasn't kidding. Ineos’s office in Knightsbridge is two goalframes away from an entrance to Harrods and Ratcliffe owns a pub in Belgravia Square. He and United's Ineos cabal are ferried around by the luxurious firm HR Carriages Mayfair. Ratcliffe is now bringing London prices to Trafford Park.
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