Ashworth: I knew it was time to go
DAN ASHWORTH realised his days as FA technical director were numbered as soon as England’s World Cup plane touched down back on home soil.
Yesterday he said his farewells at St George’s Park after spending more than six years at the organisation before heading up football operations at Brighton.
He will be replaced by Les Reed after announcing his intention to leave in September – although Ashworth’s mind was already made up within hours of England’s final game in Russia last summer.
“I’ll never forget this,” he said. “Coming back from Russia, as we landed on the runway, it occurred to me that it would be another four and a half years before we did this again.
“We didn’t see all the euphoria because we were all in Russia, so I don’t think you ever quite feel what was going on in the country.
“You get YouTube clips and snippets, and messages from your family, but it was emotionally quite difficult to get back into home life, family life, normal life while realising there was still a fair chunk of time before we had another go at competing in football’s ultimate tournament: a World Cup.
“They were difficult times, but in a nice way. I’d much rather have that than come back as we have after some other tournaments.
“But it is very much a different skill set and a different mindset for the staff. After six years, I’d missed the day-to-day part of being at a football club; the transfer windows, seeing players and coaches every day, and seeing your team compete once or twice a week.”
Though England can look forward to another semi-final in the Nations League this summer and effectively a home tournament at Euro 2020, he believes the timing is right.
“It’s time for me, and maybe for the organisation, to have a fresh set of eyes on it and a new challenge,” he said. “I really enjoy building, getting going in a new project. Once it is up and running, maybe that doesn’t suit me quite so much.”