'Ashworth stayed out...' - David Ornstein drops Monday update on Newcastle's DoF target

The Athletic‘s David Ornstein has provided an update on Newcastle United’s pursuit of former Brighton technical director Dan Ashworth. 

The journalist reported in late 2021 that the south coast club had given Newcastle permission to speak to Ashworth about taking up a director of football (DoF) role at St James’ Park, and the Seagulls confirmed last week that the 50-year-old had left his post at the Amex Stadium.

As it stands, he is expected to join Newcastle, but only after undertaking a period of ‘gardening leave’ (via BBC Sport).

The Times’ Henry Winter has said that Ashworth will bring ‘relentless enthusiasm’, a ‘great work ethic’, and plentiful contacts to Tyneside if he takes up the DoF position there.

Ornstein wrote for The Athletic on Monday morning that it will still take ‘some time’ for Newcastle to finalise the appointment of Ashworth. It’s his understanding that the Magpies have yet to reach a compensation agreement with Brighton.

In sharing a link to his article via Twitter, the journalist also stated that “Ashworth stayed out of” negotiations over Dan Burn’s £13m deadline day move from the Seagulls to St James’ Park two weeks ago in order to avoid a potential conflict of interest, with the deal instead handled by Brighton chief executive Paul Barber and Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley.

The most important thing for Newcastle is to have Ashworth installed well in advance of the summer transfer window.

The Magpies’ immediate plan will be to secure Premier League survival and then to assemble a squad which can look towards the top half rather than the bottom next season.

That’s the situation in which Brighton find themselves at present, so there’s little incentive for the Seagulls to strengthen a top-flight