‘My understanding is’: Journalist shares important update on Dan Ashworth and Newcastle

Follow us on Google Discover

Speaking on the Transfer Window Podcast, Duncan Castles has shared an update on Dan Ashworth amid strong links to Newcastle United.

Ashworth has been placed on gardening leave at Brighton, and it looks as though Newcastle will be his next destination.

However, unfortunately for the Magpies, the fact that he’s on gardening leave at a competitor means that he can’t start his work at St James’ Park right away.

In fact, according to Castles, Newcastle may have to wait as long as nine months to get their man.

What’s Castles said?

The journalist shared what he knows about this situation.

“He’s been placed on extended gardening leave by Brighton and my understanding is that the extent of that extended gardening leave is nine months, which raises an interesting question for both Newcastle and Brighton, because if they’ve decided that Ashworth is the best pick for that sporting director role, which Amanda Staveley and co have done, and it is a substantial role we’re talking about, do they buy him out of his gardening leave? Because nine months is a long time to wait if you’re trying to get yourselves to the Champions League final in five years’ time, or do you try to pay Brighton the amount required to compensate him for the amount remaining on his contract, that, I understand, would be less than one million pounds,” Castles said.

“It doesn’t seem like much of an extra investment, but the question is whether or not Tony Bloom could hold Ashworth at Brighton should Newcastle decide to buy his contract out, if he’s legally allowed to do that or if the full value of his contract is paid out he’ll be allowed to leave.”

Pay up

If Newcastle can buy Ashworth out of his contract, then they should just do it.

£1m is chump change for the Magpies these days, and they really can’t afford to wait nine months for Ashworth, especially as that would see him miss the entirety of this summer’s transfer window.

Of course, as Castles says, it may not be as easy as that, but if Newcastle do have the option of buying out Ashworth’s contract they should get their chequebook out.