Dan Ashworth is reportedly going to argue that he was sacked by Newcastle in a bid to force through a move to Manchester United. 

An arbitration hearing is due to begin later this month as the two clubs struggle to agree on a compensation fee. 

Newcastle have been waiting for the Red Devils to make a reasonable offer, which so far has not gone beyond £2m.  

Ashworth informed Newcastle of his wish to join Manchester United as their new sporting director in February and was placed on gardening leave, a period that minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has suggested expires towards the end of 2025. 

The Telegraph have now reported that Ashworth believes his exit from Newcastle would allow him to argue that his gardening leave is null and void as 'things were not handled correctly' before his exit. 

Dan Ashworth is trying to force through a move to become Man United's sporting director

It's claimed his argument is that he was not asked to formally write down his resignation by chief executive Darren Eales, so shouldn't have been placed on gardening leave until he did so and will therefore reportedly suggest that he was removed from his position. 

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The same report claims that Newcastle are 'astounded' by Ashworth's claims, and believe they hold the right to prevent him working at Old Trafford until 2025, unless a compensation deal can be reached. 

It comes after Mail Sport reported that Ashworth sent an email to a Newcastle address inadvertently revealing he was being tapped up by incoming Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada- who was still on gardening leave from Manchester City.

Mail Sport revealed that the pair had a conversation in early February and Ashworth followed that up by sending an email to Berrada - at an INEOS account - making it clear he wanted to accept the opportunity of becoming Man United’s sporting director.

However, Ashworth sent a blind copy to his own Newcastle email address, clumsily disclosing to the club the covert negotiations with Berrada. Man United, at this point, had not informed Newcastle of their interest in Ashworth.

Berrada does not officially start at Old Trafford until July 13 and he had been on gardening leave from Man City for less than a month when engaging with Ashworth, potentially breaching the terms of his contract.

Ashworth, we understand, also disclosed details to Berrada of the agreement between Newcastle and Brighton that took him to St James’ Park in the summer of 2022. This would likely be a breach of confidentiality to each of Newcastle and Brighton. 

Ratcliffe appeared to aim a dig at Newcastle last month when he said: ‘One of the biggest problems we have in football is we get these new guys to come into the team, they’re really capable people, but they’re all on gardening leave. So it takes six months, a year or even 18 months (for them to start) It’s a real issue in football at the moment.’

In February, Ratcliffe said: ‘I think it’s a bit silly, personally. What I do think is completely absurd is suggesting a man who is really good at his job sits in his garden for one and a half years.

The Premier League have not received any complaint. Their rule book states that each club, director and official should behave towards each other with the ‘utmost good faith’ and it would be a breach if they were to ‘act dishonestly towards another club’ or ‘engage in conduct that is intended to circumvent these rules’.