Manchester United had not won a league title for 19 years when Sir Alex Ferguson was appointed. Ferguson arrived from Aberdeen with no previous experience in English football as a player or manager but, after surviving a disappointing start in Manchester, he ended the wait for top-flight success when leading United to win the inaugural Premier League season of 1992/93.

An unprecedented era of dominance followed and Ferguson retired having won 13 league titles, which is why he is considered as the greatest manager of all time by many.

The Premier League trophy has not been seen at Old Trafford since Ferguson departed and just four trophies (The FA Cup, League Cup twice and Europa League) have been won in a decade.

United have spent over £1billion, they have appointed five different permanent managers, including Erik ten Hag, and what was a bad season for Ferguson – finishing second or third and winning a domestic cup competition – has been a successful campaign for his successors.

The standards have dropped and anger with the Glazers has intensified. The structure of the club has set it up to fail and change was required to restore United to former glories.

Throughout the strategic review, sources indicated Sir Jim Ratcliffe would make radical changes if he was successful in acquiring a minority stake and the British billionaire has made good on those suggestions since his breakthrough to purchase a 25 per cent stake was announced.

Crucially, Ratcliffe has gained control of football operations as part of his investment and an increasingly likely appointment of Dan Ashworth from Newcastle would be another coup after poaching Omar Berrada from Manchester City to become the club’s new CEO.

Those close to Ratcliffe suggested he desired to employ the best-in-class for United and Ashworth, like Berrada, fits that billing. He has been described as the greatest sporting director England has produced and his appointment could be the most important since Ferguson was hired.

United have failed since Ferguson retired because of the structure. There was not a football director until John Murtough’s appointment in 2021 and former CEO Richard Arnold was right when saying “we have f***ing burned through cash,” in a covertly recorded conversation.

Recruitment has continued to be a problem with Murtough as football director and it’s telling that some in the media who aren’t familiar with United don’t know his role exists.

United have backed managers instead of sticking by an implemented philosophy and vision at boardroom level and transfers have, unsurprisingly, been hit-and-miss under Ten Hag. Many of Ten Hag’s signings have Eredivisie pedigree and a manager at a functioning club should be guided by the sporting director, not given everything he wants in the sweet shop.

Ashworth should overhaul United’s recruitment but he is not a talent spotter. His expertise is in structuring a successful football club, negotiating and closing deals, having a broad database of players and agents; developing scouting networks and improving other areas.

Brighton were the best recruiters in the league during Ashworth’s time at the Amex Stadium and Newcastle have signed the likes of Alexander Isak, Sven Botman, Nick Pope and Tino Livramento during his stint at St. James’ Park, but he’s thought to have played a more intermediary role in those transfers, instead of scouting the player himself and suggesting them to the board.

Ashworth will get United’s house in order and, alongside the prospect of joining the biggest club in England, he is also said to be attracted by the move because he will have more power, it’s closer to home and he is a close friend and associate of INEOS’ Sir Dave Brailsford.

United have desperately needed a world-class sporting director and Ashworth is the calibre of appointment they need to steer the club into what promises to be an exciting new era.

Although Newcastle are, theoretically, the richest club in the world, they have already been hamstrung by financial fair play regulations and United have larger margins to work within.

Ashworth has done excellent work at West Brom, the FA, Brighton and Newcastle, and having greater resources at United should lead to even greater results.

Ratcliffe is 71 years old and there has been talk of his desire to leave a legacy behind in the city where he was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧. Ashworth’s appointment is another first step to achieving that.

Ferguson ended United’s 26-year wait for a league title in the 90s, but it shouldn’t take that long again with Ratcliffe, Berrada and Ashworth working toward success.

Finally, United are acting like a serious football club again.