Dan Ashworth is poised to pursue arbitration with Newcastle to break the deadlock concerning his proposed transfer to Manchester United.
Since February 19, Dan Ashworth has been on gardening leave following his announcement to Newcastle of his desire to join the revamped team under Ineos at Old Trafford.
Manchester United plans for the 53-year-old to become their new sporting director, but compensation disagreements have stalled progress.
Manchester United are becoming more accepting of the likelihood that Ashworth won’t join the club until after the summer transfer window closes.
However, this depends on resolving the current deadlock, and so far, the two parties remain significantly at odds.
In an interview with the BBC’s Sports Editor Dan Roan in February, new Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said it “doesn’t make sense for Dan Ashworth to be sat around doing nothing for 18 months”.
As no resolution appears imminent, Ashworth is planning to actively seek a settlement through arbitration, which will involve a third party making the decision. Despite this, Newcastle feels confident about their standing in the matter.
Before joining Newcastle in 2022, Ashworth had roles at West Bromwich Albion, the Football Association, and Brighton. He also has a well-established connection with Sir Dave Brailsford, the head of sport at Ineos, dating back to his time at the Football Association.