Roy Keane issues frank Dan Ashworth warning to Manchester United amid Real Madrid claim

Dan Ashworth is “brilliant at his job” but there is no guarantee he won’t leave Manchester United in 18 months if he is appointed as the club’s new sporting director.

That is the frank verdict of United legend Roy Keane, who believes Ashworth’s longevity at clubs is a cause for concern.

After Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group’s 25% investment in Manchester United was ratified by the Premier League and the FA earlier this week, reports suggested they were targeting a new sporting director.

Newcastle United’s Dan Ashworth emerged as the leading contender and there is a growing belief he will swap Tyneside for Manchester.

Ashworth has worked as a sporting director at West Brom, England and Brighton in recent years and is credited with reviving the sporting fortunes of every organisation he has worked for.

Roy Keane voices Dan Ashworth concerns

Since a 10-year stay at West Brom, which included three years as academy manager, he has not lasted in a role longer than five years and that is a cause for concern for Keane.

“You’re talking about Dan Ashworth coming into Manchester United and being the best for the job, but he doesn’t seem to hang around for long,” Keane told the Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast.

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“He was at Brighton for a few years, and he’s only been at Newcastle for a couple seasons, so you have to look at that too.

“There’s no doubt he’s brilliant at his job, but who is to say he won’t leave in 18 months for Real Madrid or Barcelona?”

Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville hail potential Ashworth appointment

However, Keane’s former United team-mate Gary Neville is confident Ashworth would improve the “performance mentality” at the club.

“I couldn’t believe it when Dan Ashworth left the FA and went to Brighton as that didn’t seem a step up, but then we saw what he did there, and then Newcastle United is a step up and what he’s done there in terms of managing expectations,” Neville added.

“I’m not saying Dan is going to be a success at Manchester United, but if you’ve got the guy in from Manchester City (Omar Berrada) and now Dan Ashworth, at least you’ve got people in roles that belong, as they’ve not had that in the last 10 years.

“If Dan does come in, I do think there’s a chance that the performance mentality will improve, the mentality that they do have, could run through the club quite quickly.”

And Liverpool legend Carragher is confident Ashworth would be a “fantastic appointment” for Manchester United.

“When Newcastle came in, with their huge investment, I was never – from a Liverpool point of view – thinking ‘this is the new team in town’ and thinking they’d be another Man City or Chelsea because it’s more difficult now with the FFP stuff,” Carragher said.

“I do think that Newcastle had such a great season last year, but they have almost hit a ceiling where [you wonder] how do you make that next jump?

“And people will look at some of the players they’ve got as well as Dan Ashworth, and even Eddie Howe. If Gareth Southgate leaves in the summer, you’d imagine that the FA would go for Eddie Howe.

“[Losing Dan Ashworth] is a big blow to them. Newcastle is a huge football club but they’re never going to be Manchester United.

“If Man United come for one of the players, the manager or the sporting director, he’s going to go, and I think it’s a great appointment [for Manchester United].”

Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher were speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.