\n<\/p>\n
The news is an embarrassment for United.<\/p>\n
As recently as February, Ratcliffe expressed his frustration at being made to wait to bring Ashworth to Old Trafford as Newcastle held out for compensation.<\/p>\n
In the end, United paid \u00a33m for Ashworth, who ended up on gardening leave for the same amount of time he was actually in post at United.<\/p>\n
The precise reasons for Ashworth’s exit have not been explained.<\/p>\n
Club sources say the decision was difficult but was made collaboratively following a period of transition, with the new ownership still trying to work out the best structure for the club.<\/p>\n
Critics of Ratcliffe will point to the cost of this decision – and the sacking of manager Ten Hag just months after he was given a contract extension, followed by the subsequent hiring of Amorim as head coach – as evidence of flawed thinking.<\/p>\n
In total, appointing Amorim and Ashworth and sacking Ten Hag has cost the club nearly \u00a325m.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Ratcliffe had to justify raising ticket prices to \u00a366, without concessions, on the basis he needed to raise as much money as possible to spend on the first team.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n