Dan Ashworth in talks for senior role at FA

Dan Ashworth, the former Newcastle United sporting director, is in discussions over a return to the Football Association in a senior role, according to fresh reports.

The 54-year-old has been without a job since his dismissal from Manchester United in 2024, just five months after he joined the club. He was recruited by United from Newcastle earlier that year.

Ashworth first gained recognition during his time at the FA, where he played a key role between 2012 and 2018. He received significant praise for being the driving force behind the introduction of the FA's DNA program.

After starting as head of elite development, Ashworth quickly rose through the ranks and eventually oversaw the entire football operation at St George’s Park. In 2018, he decided to leave the FA to become the sporting director at Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Telegraph claims that he is now being considered for a 'major job' back at St George’s Park. It is claimed Ashworth would oversee the “St George’s Park 2.0 project” that was recently announced by the FA – a “radical refurbishment” of the facility.

He was responsible for overseeing both the men’s and women’s senior and youth teams, as well as focusing on coach development. Following Gareth Southgate’s departure, Thomas Tuchel was appointed as the new manager of the men's national team, due to a lack of available English candidates for the role. Currently, only two English managers—Eddie Howe of Newcastle and Graham Potter of West Ham—hold positions in the Premier League.

Ashworth’s tenure at Newcastle lasted less than two years.

In February 2024, he informed the club of his desire to leave and join Manchester United. As a result, he was placed on gardening leave while both clubs negotiated compensation, which became a public and often contentious process.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe made considerable efforts to bring Ashworth to Old Trafford, calling the former sporting director at Newcastle 'one of the best in the world' just over a year ago. The Manchester United co-owner also criticized Newcastle's ‘unreasonable’ requests to shorten Ashworth's notice period, claiming the club was being 'particularly difficult' in their negotiations.

After starting work in the summer at Old Trafford, Ashworth was the senior figure quoted when Manchester United extended former manager Erik ten Hag's contract and when the club committed to spending more than £205m - in various add-ons are met - on Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte.

Things took a negative turn after Ten Hag was dismissed, and Ashworth proposed Southgate as a possible successor. However, Manchester United opted for Ruben Amorim instead, and in December, they parted ways with Ashworth.

Since then, Ashworth has been connected to several potential positions, including a role as sporting director at Arsenal and a move to Saudi Arabia under the ownership of Newcastle's PIF.