ASHWORTH MUST SET THE TONE

SPORTING DIRECTOR WILL HEAD UP DETAILED STRUCTURE

- TYRONE MARSHALL

DAN Ashworth has plenty of time to fine tune his plans for United as he wiles away his hours in the garden, waiting for the club that wants him as their new sporting director to a deal that will take him away agree from Newcastle.

The two clubs continue to try and reach an agreement that will see Ashworth take control of the Ineos project at Old Trafford sooner rather than later, but Newcastle's demand for upwards of £15million has been laughed off publicly and privately in Manchester.

While a stalemate ensues, Ashworth remains on gardening leave, catching up on Netflix perhaps or more likely dreaming up the ideas that he believes will take this club back to the top.

You can see why running the football operations at Manchester United would appeal. It doesn't quite feel right to describe United as a sleeping giant, but this is a behemoth of a football club that is significantly underperforming, based on reputation, history, investment and potential. The rewards for those who finally get it right will be golden.

Ashworth will head up a much more detailed football structure that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford are putting in place, with the 53-year-old then reporting to new chief executive Omar Berrada, who will start in the summer when his period of gardening leave ends.