Newcastle United Shakeup: Ashworth Placed on Gardening Leave Amidst Sporting Director Deal Drama”

In a surprising turn of events, Newcastle United has put Richard Ashworth on gardening leave after the 52-year-old expressed his desire to leave St James’ Park and join the club as their first-ever sporting director. However, negotiations have hit a roadblock as Newcastle stands firm, demanding a hefty £20 million compensation fee from United.

According to reports from MailOnline, United is reluctant to meet Newcastle’s asking price and is prepared to engage in negotiations for a lower fee. While the club’s preference is to swiftly finalize a deal for Ashworth, they are also ready to navigate the upcoming summer transfer window without him.

Ashworth, renowned for his successful tenure as the Football Association’s director of elite development from 2012 to 2018, followed by an impressive stint as Brighton’s technical director, is now at the center of this intriguing saga.

As the situation unfolds, football enthusiasts and Newcastle supporters eagerly await further developments in this high-stakes personnel shuffle. Stay tuned for more updates on this captivating Newcastle United saga.