Man Utd WON’T replace Dan Ashworth as club ditch sporting director role but axed chief already lined up by Arsenal

MANCHESTER UNITED have sidelined the role of sporting director after their failed Dan Ashworth experiment.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe dropped Ashworth after Saturday's 3-2 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Ashworth, now a target for Prem rivals Arsenal, was United's first ever sporting director.

But he disappeared after just five months – and the post is consigned to history.

Red Devils co-owner Ratcliffe has decided that his Ineos right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford, United chief executive Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox will share the responsibilities of the role.

Ashworth, 53, was forced to leave Old Trafford after losing a power struggle with ex-City boss Berrada.

The pair had a huge disagreement over how the club should proceed in an attempt to return to the top flight of English football.

But Ashworth, who has worked at Newcastle, Brighton, West Brom and the FA, could be offered a quick return.

Arsenal are exploring options to replace Edu as sporting director at the Emirates and Ashworth's unexpected availability has caught their attention.

Ashworth has a close relationship with Gunners director Richard Garlick, who is leading the search for a new sporting director.

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The pair worked together at West Brom for three years.

Garlick was legal director at The Hawthorns and worked under Ashworth before replacing him as the club's sporting director when he left to join the FA in 2013.

Everton are also keeping an eye on Ashworth as they wait for The Friedkin Group to complete a takeover.

The club's future new owners are in the process of a structural review, which will lead to new appointments, including a general manager and a technical director.

SunSport can reveal that Ashworth's ax will also open the door to further cuts at United.

Ashworth fought against too many cuts, despite Ratcliffe wanting more.

A total of 250 employees have been dismissed.

But that's not the end as Carrington will be targeted again, with the academy and women's football department likely to be streamlined.