Also Besiktas has apparently bid for Lascelles. That’s an interesting one as he’s important depth, but his contract is expiring and his sale would likely help big time on being able to buy players
Would stink to lose Ashworth, as I feel the work he did to improve the academy alone was impressive. But I also don't think losing an executive should rock the boat for any club anywhere, and it seems the ownership is prepared for this, should it happen. Saw this morning that fee could be above 10 with a 12 month gardening leave. That's more than enough money to go get a top DoF, and he can't take any immediate work to Man U
Pay the money or shut up Jim. If you don't/didn't want him to be on leave then you should have handled this better
Do you honestly believe Newcastle didn’t get assurances from Ashworth that he was interested in the job before contacting Brighton?
Do you really think that United has handled this properly? They knew he was interested. Why not formally approach the club first?
So then they should pay the compensation figure that's part of contracts. That's how this works, yet United seems to be bothered by it because another club isn't just rolling over
Candidly, why wouldn't Newcastle play hardball? They spent a good chunk of money to get him to the club to be the leader of it. And he's bailing after two years. Why would Newcastle let him just up and leave with all the information for a minimal amount of money, AFTER he had just recently signed a new extension?
I know! It's hilarious that United won't just pay the compensation for someone they want so badly/think so highly of!
IAHusk - obviously I’m seeing the Newcastle side of it more, but it sure seems like those covering it are making it sound like United hasn’t handled this the best
I really haven’t seen anyone other than the Newcastle reporters talk about United handling it poorly. Any interested party is going to get assurances from the person before formally contacting their employer. That’s just how it works with executives, managers, players, and high level recruitment in general. It’s not United’s fault that the press have been talking about it for months due to the prior connection between Ashworth and Brailsford. INEOS couldn’t have even put out any kind of statement to address the reports since their stake in the club hadn’t been ratified. I think most are in agreement that the £20m asking price is completely absurd. To me it seems like the Newcastle owners are in their feelings over someone they value wanting to leave for what they see as better opportunity. If we’re going to take the reports at face value then United have been pretty clear they are willing to pay a reasonable sum for him but they aren’t going to be held to ransom by people who are mad at the realization that their endless oil money can’t buy everything.
That’s certainly one way to view it. 20 mil may be a lot. But he’s the architect of the club. Why would they just let that walk away before very important transfer windows? The reason it’s viewed crazily is because DOF/executives have never really been sought after. United decided to try and operate through the media as opposed to going to the club. I don’t think anyone at the club is mad upset at talking to DA before the club, but going through media at every step before talking to NUFC, and then being uppity at a leave/fee is childish as hell. Ratcliffe will clearly get his guy. But he’s going to have to pay, and going to the media to bitch today likely made it more difficult to get him there any sooner
Also l o fucking l at this coming from a United supporter/anyone at the club. Cant get their DoF of choice for the price they want, run to the media and cry foul.
Also the reported fee was only to get him immediately. Which considering what all he was in control of at the club makes complete sense to me
They aren’t letting him walk away like he’s leaving for free. United are more than willing to pay but they’re not going to pay a ridiculous fee. Just because something gets reported doesn’t mean it came from United or INEOS. All the names linked with the job were just the biggest names out there at the time plus Ashworth who has a natural link with the new co-owners. They were names that were always going to be linked to one of the biggest jobs in the sport. I’m sure those reporters have sources at the club just like the ones who reported the £20m have their sources at Newcastle. But it’s just United campaigning through the media. This is especially funny to me considering one of the biggest criticisms of the Glazers era has been consistently and often grossly overpaying for players. They never got anyone at the “price they want”. This is a new regime and they don’t intend to just pay whatever insane fee the seller wants.
That’s fine and I respect that. My point was United fans(not you) bitching about Newcastle being hard negotiators over the guy running their entire club is hilarious. United has the money, if they want him, pay. Newcastle is aiming to be in direct competition with United, so they don’t want all the information/club vision to go for what they view as cheap. If they want him in place for any of the next two transfer windows, they’re going to have to pay. And while it may not be the reported 20, it’s going to be more than what they want. Newcastle is paying Jeff Hendrick 2.1 million a year and he hasn’t played for the club in like 3 years. Paying Ashworth to be on leave for the sake of keeping their plans/information is a price they are clearly willing to pay.
By all accounts United don’t have much money for the summer regardless of what they pay for Ashworth. Gonna have to be heavily funded through sales. Varane, Casemiro, Maguire, Lindelof, Sancho, Greenwood could all go with some a lot more likely than others. Possibly Rashford as well if PSG come with the bag.
I just meant it more as any of the top clubs could/would overpay if the right player came available. Especially new owners want to put their stamp on things I haven’t commented much and do not care about Dan leaving that much. I think a lesser fee and a leave until the January window 2025 is most likely the outcome.
A reasonable fee plus gardening leave has always been the obvious and most likely outcome. It also could have been amicably achieved without Newcastle pounding their fists demanding a ridiculous fee or threatening someone they supposedly value and respect with a 2 year gardening leave.
Why do you think I think this is what should have happened? Genuine question as I’ve said nothing even close to that. Ig cordial negotiation leading to a favorable outcome for both parties is rolling over in your book.
Because every post of yours blames Newcastle, or insinuates they’re being ridiculous, for (checks notes) driving a hard negotiation so their rivals can’t take the head of the entire sporting side of the club. He has a contract, which is the length of his leave. This is the same thing that Newcastle had to deal with when trying to get him from Brighton. They had a price Newcastle didn’t want to pay, but amazingly ownership didn’t go complain in the media like Ratcliffe did today. Also don’t understand how putting someone on gardening leave is a threat like you said. Only difference between this situation and the one at Brighton right now is Brighton’s you doesn’t oversee everything like DA. It’s also regular practice with high level jobs
There’s a big difference between aiming high in negotiations and making unrealistic demands. That’s not hard negotiating, it’s bad negotiating. Ratcliffe didn’t “go complain to the media”. His stake in the club was officially announced yesterday and it was one quote from his first interview as co-owner that covered a wide range of topics. He was asked about it and called a spade a spade. The difference between this and Brighton is Brighton didn’t start with a figure they were never going to get. They asked for £5m and settled for £4m to release Ashworth after 3 months of gardening leave. Normally gardening leave wouldn’t be a threat but it turns into one when unrealistic compensation is demanded to end it.
Disagreeing with fee/compensation =/= bad negotiating. That’s complaining at Newcastle’s negotiating.. And the price is larger because he’s paid a lot more and has a larger role. Newcastle is building something and dont want architect leaving to a rival.
He didn’t seek out the media to complain. He gave a 10 second answer to one question during an hour long interview. Ashworth’s role at Brighton and Newcastle are pretty similar from everything I’ve read. Less focused on talent identification and acquisition and more focused and making sure the whole sporting operation is on the same page and moving in the same direction.
I was meaning larger money/club so the compensation is going to be more. Sorry for the messiness, was posting on phone wrapping up at the office.
I feel like I’ve read since this all started, that Ashworth agreed to the compensation amount. So it’s rather funny to me that the media is running with the whole Newcastle being ridiculous theme, if it’s written legally into a contract.
Botman tore ACL. Out 6 months. Club should have had him do surgery months ago. Now this will leak into next season