Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer slam ‘shambolic’ and ’embarrassing’ Man United owners Ineos after sporting director Dan Ashworth’s shock exit

Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker both condemned Man United’s Ineos group after Dan Ashworth shock exit as the club’s sporting director on Sunday mornring, less than five months since his high-profile arrival.

The 53-year-old’s summer arrival from Newcastle – that cost United between £2m – £3m in compensation – was previously hailed as a key move in the start of Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s Ineos-driven reign.

However, Ashworth was told he would no longer be a part of the club’s future inside Old Trafford by chief executive Omar Berrada in the immediate aftermath of United’s 3-2 weekend home defeat against Nottingham Forest.

Newly-appointed first-team manager Ruben Amorim is attempting to drive the ambitions of Ratcliffe following the British billionaire’s £1.3biliion investment in the club nearly a year ago.

Amorim watched his United side suffer back-to-back defeats for the first time last week with the Portuguese still only five games into his job after replacing Erik ten Hag.

Ashworth’s exit from the 13-time Premier League champions has scrutinised the decision making of the Ineos board – led by Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford – with it yet to be confirmed if a new sporting director will be recruited.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe (left) and Sir Dave Brailsford (right) had previously hailed Ashworth’s arrival at the club

Lineker and Shearer have now slammed the United board on the back of their decsion to terminate Ashworth’s contract after such a short period, with the pair labelling the decision as ‘shambolic’ and ’embarrassing’. 

England and Premier League legend, Shearer, uttered his disbelief at United, telling The Rest Is Football podcast: ‘Not only are they poor on the pitch but what on earth is going on off the pitch? 

‘It’s embarrassing to go out and get a guy and then him being on gardening leave for six months. 

‘He spent longer on gardening leave than he did in the position at Manchester United! They paid £3m compensation for him then he leaves? It’s a terrible look. 

‘What on earth is going on at that football club,’ he further added in damning criticism.

Meanwhile, Lineker ridiculed the decisions since Ratcliffe’s investment further and highlighted the handling of Ten Hag’s exit just weeks into the new season after the Dutchman survived the summer by winning the FA Cup.

The 64-year-old added: ‘It’s funny isn’t it because Ratcliffe came in and he brought in David Brailsford, Dan Ashworth and all’s going to be well, but it’s actually been more shambolic in many ways. 

‘We saw the whole Ten Hag situation over the summer when they were interviewing other managers and ended up going back to Ten Hag and then giving him a contract and then a few months later firing him and then there’s loads of compensation for that. They brought Dan Ashworth in and now he’s out the door. 

Ashworth (far right) was told by United CEO Omar Berrada (second from right) that his stint at the club was over after less than five months on Sunday

Alan Shearer (right) and Gary Lineker (left) both condemned Man United’s Ineos group over the handling of United’s decision to terminate Ashworth’s contract

United co-owner Ratcliffe (left) and his Ineos board were also criticised over their decision to keep former boss Erik ten Hag at the club over the summer

‘They have put the ticket prices up and a lot of fans are not happy about that. They have made big changes at the football club, they’ve moved out the women’s football team. 

‘It’s been a shambles in many ways. It just shows: you can be super successful in business, life, or whatever you do, but football is a little bit different to business,’ said Lineker.

Shearer continued the duo’s scathing criticism, stating: It’s been embarrassing, it really has been embarrassing for the start they’ve made at that football club and everything that has gone on and for that to happen on Sunday. 

‘I’m not a Man United fan but the fans must think ‘what on earth is going on?’ it’s such a bad look.’