There will be a compromise, United will pay a hefty sum for a DOF and get Ashworth on board for next season. Newcastle need to cut ties quickly and find a replacement, they also can't afford paying his wages while his sits on his arse doing nothing due to FFP. Both teams need to resolve this quickly.
Dan Ashworth - Newcastle DoF currently tending to his garden
- Thread starter Pogue Mahone
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I see your point. But this is the guy who, if successful at his job, who is going to play arguably the most important role in making Manchester United the best team in England again on the pitch. It is likely he's going to be more valuable to the club than any player signing in that case. And they clearly believe he is capable of doing just that when cheaper and easier options are available who the fans would also have welcomed with open arms.
I perhaps shouldn't frame it like "just pay it" - but I wouldn't blame the club paying extra to get their people in place now to start the United resurgence ASAP
Sort of. As I've stated previously, it's typical for garden leave to match an employee's notice period. For the most senior employees - i.e. director level/SLT members such as Ashworth, that's typically a notice period of around 6-9 months at the heaviest. It's unusual for a period of garden leave to exceed these periods. This may be drafted in the terms of his employment contract, but there's a strong chance it does not fly in practice. Ashworth could very easily take this to the employment tribunal and argue that the terms of his garden leave are unreasonable and greatly exceed their necessity -- (20 months of doing nothing will massively hamper his job opportunities going forward).
Can Newcastle place him on garden leave, prevent him from accessing any confidential information, and completely freeze him out of the club? Yes. Can they practically do that for a period of 20 months? Unlikely.
What your contract says, and whether things are actually enforceable are two different things. Generally speaking, nearly all the terms in your employment contract will be enforceable. Restrictive covenants and garden leave are the main two that fall into the 'are they enforceable' bracket. It will all depend on how reasonable it is to enforce those in their entirety taking everything into consideration.
Correct.
Bear in mind we are watching this through the prism of journalists and social media and it's in their interests to talk the complexity of the situation up for clicks. Tomorrow they will say it's a done deal and the following day they will say there is a last minute hitch.... and without any inside knowledge whatsoever.
Some funny comments from the NUFC Reddit threads:
Some funny comments in the "Why is Dan Ashworth worth 20 Million thread:
This is the top comment
Some funny comments in the "Why is Dan Ashworth worth 20 Million thread:
This is the top comment
and the rest
Yeap. We are not recruiting him for "his" database or because he can bring it over (he cannot), we want him because of his skills, experience, and brains. Henry Winter seems to be baiting clicks
Oh, the irony.
And this is why you should never be desperate about any single person, and should not go for friends if they are hard to get (because emotions can make you desperate).
A well-managed club will have 3-4 options that are as good as Ashworth and tell Newcastle to go eff themselves and stay with a person who told them he would rather leave, if they decide to be unreasonable
Can't be weak in negotiations, it has to be rule #1
Has Berrada started already or is he still on gardening leave? I would trust him to be strong and do this right
Some comments from the Ornstein news thread:
It would be one hell of a weird way to organize recruitment if Newcastle's database was hosted on Ashworth's laptop and not a cloud server with authentication protocols that he no longer has.
Imagine working as a scout and inputing new data, only for the connection to be dropped because Ashworth closed his laptop.
Anyone else think INEOS must know something not currently being reported? (Not just literally)
All exclusives are from the Newcastle side, but nothing really from United based journo's, only reports following their North-East counterparts.
All exclusives are from the Newcastle side, but nothing really from United based journo's, only reports following their North-East counterparts.
It would be one hell of a weird way to organize recruitment if Newcastle's database was hosted on Ashworth's laptop and not a cloud server with authentication protocols that he no longer has.
Imagine working as a scout and inputing new data, only for the connection to be dropped because Ashworth closed his laptop.
Given that if he's good at the job he can easily make us £20 with good transfer deals, either by saving or by selling, it's absolutely idiotic to wait 20 months just to spite Newcastle. I'm sure they can negotiate to bring this price down.
Of course they will. The UK press are also likely behind a step or two at least.
Do Newcastle fans think they win by paying for a DoF not to work for them for 2 years?
I like Ashworth and want him at the club, but it will be fecking hilarious if we just call their bluff and say nah thanks lads, we’re happy to wait.
I like Ashworth and want him at the club, but it will be fecking hilarious if we just call their bluff and say nah thanks lads, we’re happy to wait.
Thought I had just bumped into Johnny Ball
Just seems like a lot of bluster from the Newcastle side - throwing ridiculous numbers and dates into the air at this stage.
Whereas the United side are appearing quite comfortable with everything.
Dunno - maybe I'm biased.
One is a small sports club in the north east, owned by a guy who can murder journalists without seeing the inside a courtroom, and the other is a multinational chemicals and pharmaceutical company. Which party do you think has the greater confidence and experience in corporate law?
No mate, that is exactly how it is. The fact that Ashworth held on until he was given assurances he wouldn't be left high and dry tells you everything you need to know.
Wouldn''t even bet against it being already settled on or agreed in private at the highest levels.
It's probably just a bit of filler for everyone until the ratification happens tomorrow then they can go to work officially and make the approach.
When Newcastle got taken over by Oil Inc., I guarantee they had a meeting in which they identified us as the club they could most likely push out of the top 4 with their new wealth.
Last season we not only beat them in a cup final, we also finished above them in the table despite their celebration dvd after they beat us in the league match.
That we are now looking like getting our shit together AND showing we can step in and take their DoF who likely only had to give it 30 seconds before deciding he was jumping ship, is understandably going to upset the small-time element of their support
Last season we not only beat them in a cup final, we also finished above them in the table despite their celebration dvd after they beat us in the league match.
That we are now looking like getting our shit together AND showing we can step in and take their DoF who likely only had to give it 30 seconds before deciding he was jumping ship, is understandably going to upset the small-time element of their support
No way we are waiting until 2025 for him but then Edwards is Newcastle journalist so expect thatThis guy is a tool. Obvious Newcastle fanboy
Why would we pay them anything and have him start in a year? The whole point of compensation is to negate the waiting time
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Henry thinks Ashworth has an Excel file on a thumb drive that he sleeps with and recruiters send him updates via hotmailIt would be one hell of a weird way to organize recruitment if Newcastle's database was hosted on Ashworth's laptop and not a cloud server with authentication protocols that he no longer has.
Imagine working as a scout and inputing new data, only for the connection to be dropped because Ashworth closed his laptop.
))Rob Dawson, ESPN
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Look like United now actually try and negotiate things. A novel feeling.
I certainly hope he can make us £20 - would be a case of much ado about nothing - if not
I think the Woodward United would be slapping down £20m on the table today.
Can see this dragging on for a few months with him starting towards the end of 2024 - similar to what Rob Dawson has said.
The reality is he might as well start in summer, Ineos are hardly going to be planning for next year as a make or break, it's going to be a long term plan. Newcastle now have all the pressure to let him leave if we just wait and refuse to pay more than a set amount, they are paying his salary knowing he is counting down the days and their choice is either buckle and take the most money they can get (sensible option) or get nothing, keep paying his salary until he then is free to leave.
We’re playing this perfectly.
Yep agreed.
The fact United seemingly haven't even (supposedly) approached Newcastle for formal discussions yet shows they are in no rush... or appearing as though they are in no rush.
What is this strange thing resembling competency?!
There's no way a 20+ month gardening leave / notice period is enforceable in court. Both sides will reach an amicable settlement sooner rather than later.
He wouldn't just be breaking intellectual property laws, he'd be breaking every law in the world. Clandestine, black ops, super secret spy stuff. Newcastle's blueprints for an innovative way to heal broken bones in seconds. Starting lineups that include a twelfth player without being penalised for it. Talking cats. The shit that Ashworth has been privy to in that laboratory of futuretech would blow our tiny, neanderthal minds.
Stare in awe at the sheer beauty of their wondrous palace. The secrets we will discover from within! We will finally be a football club, equal to their standing in the game throughout their 18 months of history
Dan just wants a long paid holiday..
Newcatle wont care.. if they arent getting a meaningful amount, then Dan can sit at home.. there is no reason for them to let him join us early..
pretty standard..
not sure about a 2 year gardening leave.. these things have to be in the contract he signed, right? pretty silly to agree to something that long.
Newcatle wont care.. if they arent getting a meaningful amount, then Dan can sit at home.. there is no reason for them to let him join us early..
pretty standard..
not sure about a 2 year gardening leave.. these things have to be in the contract he signed, right? pretty silly to agree to something that long.
this is hilarious. If we pull out now, they'll have to pay out a disgruntled employee for two years.Prison time? Imagine it.
"What are you in for?"
"Broke my gardening leave didn't I pal."
"What are you in for?"
"Broke my gardening leave didn't I pal."
Garden leave unusually continues for the duration of the notice period of your employment contract. You are correct that you cannot "put someone on it for life" because notice periods are usually measured in months. However, your garden leave does not automatically end when you find new employment - you continue to be employed during the period of garden leave (and will still receive a salary) and so you cannot start work for a competitor until your garden leave ends.
"arrested?! On what charge? Taking another job? Taking a SUCCULENT football JooOOOOb"
Most I see in finance is 12months but that is written into contracts. You get kicked out the same day you resign and then just get a year's paid holiday.
Problem is what happens in terms of the summer window if this really drags on. INEOS will want to make their mark first opportunity they get
If I were the club I would just wait till 2026, build out the team around Ashworth and let them handle the next two summers. Newcastle want to cut off their noses to spite their face? Let them.