A lot of nonsense on these threads because the only news we get is from Journos.
We have spent the past year keeping things from Journalists until the very last and still people believe everything that's printed.
Ashworth was never and will never be a transfer guru. His role as be describes it is basically tying the sporting side together.
I will be honest, I supported the hire but I along with everybody here and the majority of Journalists do not understand the remit.
Everybody I know plus on here was adamant that Ashworth was the transfer guru (he has never been).
Everybody I know plus on here thought that his role would remove manager power on transfers (that's not what Ashworth does and I mentioned this multiple times).
With regards the Director of Football role, Ashworth is the product of the England machine. He was instrumental in setting up the course for the FA, setting up the England infrastructure (he identified 3 at the back as a modern counter to Tiki Taka and GeGen press which were the current evolution of football, so would have had no issue with Ruben's 3-4-3 in theory.
The director of football role as defined by the FA vs the rest of world football is lacking massively. The director of football of a top club needs to have worldwide contacts and an eye for talent that can be top top talent. (This is not Asworth, he used Blooms database at Brighton, he was undermined at Newcastle, never had to sign a player for the FA.)
Ultimately the role we wanted Ashworth to do isn't the role Ashworth is good at, he has failed his probation period and been let go.
Even if he was all of those things and fit the role (most clubs don't split the role like Ashworths appointment does and a lot of the work he would be doing is already spread across the football hierarchy without him) the fact is that Ratcliffe was VERY public in identifying that our data analysis is in the stone age (it's common on the coaching circuit to hear talk of United being miles behind the times and sticking to old and proven rather than moving with the times) and Ashworth should have made that first priority seeing as it's been five months.
The other point that sticks out to me is the denial of support for Ten Hag staying on. People seem to be skirting over it as a hands tied type thing and what were they supposed to do. The point is touched on in a couple of the articles but basically they shouldn't have been doing that interview at that time it was too soon when there was plenty of work to be done. Berrarda seemingly caught flak too, but Ashworth carries a bit more experience and probably should have had a bit more self awareness.
Ratcliffe would have preferred that they said nothing or said everything, anything half assed would look bad. The Directors felt they were keeping United out of court where from what I am interpreting Ratcliffe thought the situation was ridiculous and essentially "we are Manchester United sod them all".