Sir Jim Ratcliffe 'infuriated' at Manchester United decision that led to Dan Ashworth exit

Sir Jim Ratcliffe was reportedly left 'infuriated' when former Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth distanced himself from the decision to keep Erik ten Hag during the summer.

Following their FA Cup triumph over Man City back in May, United chiefs conducted an end-of-season review and ultimately decided to stick with Ten Hag despite interviewing other candidates for the role.

United would go on to back the Dutchman with a further £200 million in the summer transfer window, money that already looks poorly invested after they sacked their manager in October after a poor start to the campaign.

Ashworth has subsequently paid the price with his own role at Old Trafford and the Daily Mail claims a key reason why is because the former sporting director supposedly tried to avoid any of the blame for sticking with Ten Hag in the first place.

Back in September, Omar Berrada and Ashworth spoke to a number of media outlets and claimed the managerial decision made in the summer was taken prior to their arrivals. The report states those comments subsequently went down ‘like a lead balloon’ with co-owner Ratcliffe, who used his own interview a month later in which he told the BBC the decision to stick with Ten Hag was 'not his call.'

United are yet to decide whether they will directly replace Ashworth in the sporting director roles with talks due to take place over the coming days. Ruben Amorim will no doubt be quizzed on the matter when he talks to the media on Wednesday ahead of the Europa League clash with Viktoria Plzeň.