RUHRLYASLEEVESUP

Manchester United are at risk of a tapping-up investigation after Newcastle United discovered emails suggesting Omar Berrada secretly wooed Dan Ashworth in early February. Incoming chief executive Berrada was still serving his period of gardening leave at Manchester City when Ashworth copied a message intended for him to his own account at Newcastle. The email, discovered in recent weeks by Newcastle, was sent weeks before Ashworth told executives at the north-east club that he wanted to stand down as director of football to join Manchester United. Such approaches without permission from the target club can prompt investigations from authorities, but it is understood no official complaint has been made to either the Premier League or the Football Association yet. Instead, there is a growing expectation that Newcastle will instead use their proof of contact three months ago as leverage to force Manchester United to pay the compensation they are looking for. The email blunder by Ashworth, who appears to have sent the message to himself by blank carbon copy, could also land United in trouble with City, given Berrada was still officially on the rival club’s staff. In the email, Ashworth is also said to have disclosed details to Berrada of the confidential agreement Newcastle struck with Brighton to bring him to the north-east in 2022. Both United’s declined to comment, but multiple sources confirmed a report, first detailed in the Daily Mail, that Ashworth sent an email CCing his Newcastle account to Berrada’s Ineos account. Ashworth revealed a secret exchange with incoming Manchester United executive Omar Berrada (right) – whilst he was on Manchester City gardening leave CREDIT: PA The message is said to “make it clear” he wanted to accept the opportunity of becoming Manchester United’s sporting director. Ashworth, 53, has been on gardening leave since stepping down as Newcastle’s sporting director on Feb 18, having informed the Tyneside club he was interested in a move to Old Trafford. The email discovery will only serve to heighten tensions behind the scenes, with The Telegraph reporting three weeks ago how Ashworth was set to take Newcastle to arbitration in an attempt to force through the move amid an increasingly acrimonious stand-off. Initially, Sir Jim Ratcliffe offered just over £2 million as compensation, which was dismissed out of hand. Newcastle are seen as likely to be willing to compromise on initial demands of £20 million, however. One source said the email showing Ashworth was tapped up dramatically strengthens Newcastle’s hand although legal options will also be looked at. Ashworth declined to comment when contacted by The Telegraph. The Old Trafford hierarchy feel their approach for Ashworth is no different to the way Newcastle pursued the former Football Association technical director when he was at Brighton and have been surprised by the Tyneside club’s financial demands. Privately, United, who are operating to a tight budget this summer, feel that the extra £10 million-plus it might take solely to shorten Ashworth’s gardening leave would be better invested in playing talent. Ratcliffe has been critical publicly of Newcastle’s positioning and their determination to hold Ashworth to the full length of his gardening leave, which is thought to run until late next year, unless their demands are met in full. Speaking in February, Ratcliffe, who has assumed complete control of football operations at United as part of his £1.3 billion deal for a 27.7 per cent stake in the club, said: “I think Dan Ashworth is clearly one of the top sporting directors in the world, I’ve no doubt. “He’s a very capable person. He’s interested in the Manchester United job because it’s probably the biggest sporting director job in the world just now, with the biggest challenge. “We’ve obviously had words with Newcastle. They would clearly be disappointed to lose Dan. But 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.” Ratcliffe suggested Ashworth’s gardening leave term expires next year. United separately appointed Jason Wilcox as technical director last month. The Premier League 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”.

Played ok penalty aside

FGS, people like me Ive paid my dues home & away Europe & beyond for the last 45 years lad, don't try that shoite with me lad

Ya what ?

Ya what ?

FFS

20 teams in the league, were 10th which makes us (incredibly sadly) an average team

You think were a top 6 team now ?

Am ok man, al keep on supporting the team I have for the last 43 years but I appreciate your worry for me pal

Man

Great crack but you clearly can't but giving the Mint crack sums you up

No man, that isn't my angle, I don't want us to be "average" nothing farther from my being wants that in any way, & no ive never taken the angle "you are all wrong" my point is we are a very average team (were 10th in the leauge after 21cgqmes) what does that make us? a top 4 team ?a challenger forth title? a europa top 7 place? na it makes us a very average team (champs league games exempt) team were just not that good in the scheme of things & IMO were extremely average in the entire context of the leauge

FOM

Very fair point

Fair point, that was a generalisation & prob not factually true, its more like 95.9%

Your been facetious, its a decent effort however your just embarrassing yourself

He he he

Fingers crossed

Aye

No that's very fair & oddly enough im not looking for an argument, im simply making the observation we are no. where near a Man City, liverpool, Man Utd, arsenal etc side, we are as facts prove a very average team, we have zero depth, zero scope (1st 11 aside) from being a trophy / league winning team, that's fine we are what we are but 96% of people on here & other forums wont accept that, we are a poor team save for a fully fit 1st 11, we cannot & will not compete against the top teams & were also many many years away from challenging them, but most wont accept that, Meh

Well that's a bit controversial, if you could kindly point out where ive been wrong in the past that would be lovely

ok I will take that onboard

Honestly pal, Ive never been vaxxed & never will be but if you feel the need than Im very happy for you

No im not, im just straight, were a very average mid table premier leauge two, we may be bettie in 3 or 4 years but for now were a very easily beaten squad / team

Fair comment