Manchester United director of football John Murtough resigns as Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox join
Manchester United director of football John Murtough will leave the club this week after stepping down from his role.
The 50-year-old has been at Old Trafford for more than a decade but will be replaced by Newcastle UnitedEdit athletic director Dan Ashworth once his gardening leave ends.
The move is further evidence of INEOS' new restructuring following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's purchase of a minority stake in the club.
Murtough joined United in 2013 after working in the Premier League and with Fulham and Everton.
Confirmation of his departure will be announced by the club soon as they continue to make major moves under their plans for next season.
Southampton football director Jason Wilcox He will also join Ashworth at Old Trafford as United's new manager.
United anticipate Wilcox will take up the new role in the coming weeks if an agreement can be reached with the Championship club.
However, United may have to wait a little longer to acquire Ashworth's services, with talks to secure his departure from Newcastle said to have stalled.
The Magpies are claimed to be demanding £20m in compensation to allow Ashworth to move to Old Trafford, having placed him on gardening leave in February after he informed the club if he wished to leave.
Murtough was first brought to Old Trafford by then manager David Moyes after their work together at Everton, becoming United's academy coach.
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He was then given the role of head of football development in 2016, before landing the role of Manchester United's first director of football in 2021, having been hand-picked by Ed Woodward.
He was responsible for overseeing men's, women's and academy operations.
Murtough's responsibilities will now be shared by Ashworth and Wilcox, once their arrivals have been confirmed.
Meanwhile, Omar Berrada will take up his new role as CEO in the summer, replacing Richard Arnold, who left his role in November.
Murtough played a key role in the appointment Erik ten Hag as coach in 2022 and was involved in building the current team alongside assistant director of football Andy O'Boyle, director of football operations David Harrison and director of football negotiations Matt Hargreaves.
