Gary Neville 's concerns over Manchester United's 'bad culture' appears to explain why a move for Brighton Hove & Albion technical director Dan Ashworth failed to materialise.
A major rebuild is expected at Old Trafford this summer after the confirmation that Erik ten Hag will be the new manager from next season. But changes behind the scenes have already commenced.
John Murtough was promoted from head of football development to football director, while former player Darren Fletcher has been promoted from academy coach to technical director. Before the appointment of Fletcher as technical director, United explored the possibility of appointing Ashworth from Brighton at the start of the year, according to The Athletic.
Newcastle, however, made their interest known quickly, with Brighton granting permission to speak to Ashworth - as he later agreed a switch to St James' Park. Although there was some form of contact from United, the club did not make a formal approach, interview or offer as the Reds simply explored the chances of attaining him.
And earlier this month, Neville reiterated his fears over the club's current structure and said: "Going back to the recruitment side, what the club have done over the last 10 years, I think Jurgen Klopp had an interview or a conversation with Manchester United and he called it Disneyland when he spoke to Ed Woodward," Neville said.
"What Manchester United have done is brought players in with piano introductions like [Alexis] Sanchez and ‘PogBack’ and all the big palaver around him, the Cristiano [Ronaldo] one at the start of the season, they have elevated the player above the manager at the football club as well.
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"You go to Liverpool, you go to Chelsea, you go to Manchester City, the manager is the primary figure at the football club. They [United] have undermined managers over the last ten years at Manchester United by basically elevating the players into this god-like status, and the players haven't performed.
"My view at this moment in time there are a lot of things that to be fair the players could do better, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the start of the season could have done better, Ralf Rangnick maybe could have done better but fundamentally the club is broken on and off the pitch.
"The stadium's falling apart, the training ground's now falling back to second rate compared to the other training grounds. The owners are taking £25million a year out of the club when actually the club needs investment - and it sets the culture badly from the top."
