Toon need a big Dan plan

LIFE moves fast in the world of football.

One minute Dan Ashworth is the brains and power behind a Saudi football revolution at St James’ Park. The next he’s linked with a move to Old Trafford.

But he’s a dispensable cog in the system who will be remembered for spending £54million on Sandro Tonali, the big summer deal, seemingly without knowing he was a gambling addict about to be banned for 10 months.

Even Eddie Howe got in on the act, intentionally or not, describing Ashworth’s influence at Newcastle during his brief spell in charge by saying: “When you are in that role you need longevity to see the fruits of your labour.

“The people who have done it best have had a period of stability.”

Howe then added that the new regime’s most successful window was his first (without Ashworth in place) when Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier arrived.

Ashworth has clearly calculated that the Man United project is a better one than Newcastle’s. Bigger budget, more real power, a bigger global sports brand and greater chances of landing a trophy or two.

Given that Newcastle now class themselves as direct rivals, questions have to be asked as to why has Ashworth not been marched out of St James’ Park in short order.

Howe is worried about the level of “intelligence and information” Ashworth could leave with.

He will know the summer transfer targets. He will know where the potential bargains are, where the good release clauses are around Europe – and how much cash the Toon have to rival his likely new club.

At most other multi-million pound businesses, Ashworth would have had his company laptop taken off him and told to stay at home.

But it’s a delicate balance pretending it is business as usual, while extracting maximum compensation from Old Trafford and also losing your transfer secrets.