HITC understands that Manchester United are ready to push ahead with their plans to lure Newcastle United’s Dan Ashworth to Old Trafford.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority takeover of United is nearing conclusion after the latest hurdle was taken with the Premier League granting their approval to INEOS buying 25 per cent of the club – a decision approved by the league’s new Independent Oversight Panel.
A Premier League statement read: “Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of 25 per cent of Manchester United FC, and further investment of $300 million in the club, has been approved by the Premier League Board, following the completion of the Owners’ and Directors’ Test (OADT).
“The Board agreed to the change of the club’s ownership structure last week, and this has now been officially ratified by an Independent Oversight Panel.
“The Premier League’s Owners’ Charter has also been signed.”
FA next in line
The Football Association are next in-line to approve the £1.03billion deal and United sources have confirmed to HITC that they hope that the overall takeover will be completed within the next month.
As part of the takeover, Ratcliffe is taking control of footballing operations from the majority owners The Glazer Family, and they have already begun the rebuild.
The plan is to have INEOS supremos Jean-Claude Blanc, their Sporting CEO, and Sir Dave Brailsford, their director of sport, on United’s board and they will oversee the operation reporting to Ratcliffe.
They have already appointed Omar Berrada as their new chief executive and the next appointment to work alongside him is to be the sporting director – who will in-turn bring in a new head of recruitment.
The sporting director role is something that has also been discussed at length by INEOS and as HITC previously revealed – Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth is their first choice to come in.
Brailsford is leading the appointment and is already close to Ashworth after the pair become close over the last decade. Brailsford, when head of British Cycling, often compared ideas, thoughts and ambitions with Ashworth – then director of elite development at the Football Association.
Ashworth target
Ashworth is currently sporting director at Newcastle and has helped rebuild the club following the takeover from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, but now Brailsford is hoping to persuade him to move to Old Trafford.
HITC understands that Newcastle are eager for Ashworth to stay, but they know the lure of working at Manchester United might be too much for them to overcome.
Their chief executive Darren Eales admitted last month that they were ‘hopeful’ that they could keep Ashworth.
“Dan’s done a great job, there’s a lot more work to be done and we’re hopeful he’s here for the long term,” he said. “He’s certainly enjoying his time at the moment.”
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