Dan Ashworth 'in talks' over shock new role months after brutal Manchester United sacking

Dan Ashworth is in talks to take a shock new role after leaving his position as Manchester United sporting director last year, it has been reported.

The 54-year-old officially left his role by mutual consent in December, though reports indicated that he had been relieved of his duties by minority co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

It was reported that one of the key reasons behind Ashworth's departure was his part in the decision to extend Erik ten Hag's contract last summer and identify signings for the Dutchman to complete.

United's latest accounts revealed that the club paid a combined £4.1 million in compensation to recruit Ashworth from Newcastle in the summer and as a pay-off sum.

Since his departure, Ashworth has been working in a consultancy role with Warwickshire County Cricket Club.

Club sources told BBC Sport that he had taken up the role back in 2021, and it remains voluntary and unpaid.

Now, The Telegraph report that Ashworth is in talks over a shock return to the FA, having previously been a key part of the organisation before leaving for Brighton in 2018.

He is highly thought of at the FA, with the report claiming that he is being considered to take a brand-new role at senior level.

The role would oversee the 'St George's Park 2.0 project' - described as a 'radical refurbishment' of England's current elite training facility.

Ashworth would oversee the men's and women's senior and junior teams, and also focus on British coach development.

When speaking about Ashworth's appointment and the decision to keep Ten Hag, Ratcliffe told The Telegraph: "They were just mistakes.

"The Erik thing is slightly mitigating. There was quite a lot of debate about that time. He had just won a Cup final. The fans were clearly of the view that we'd like to stick with him, and all that sort of stuff.

"They were both mistakes. I don't think we can say much more than that ... we're talking about our old industry [with Ineos]. I think we just have to say [on Ashworth], chemistry. Really, I don't want to go down that. It is what it is, and it was our fault."