ASHWORTH: I QUIT FA ON WAY HOME FROM RUSSIA

DAN ASHWORTH has revealed that his decision to quit after seven years as the FA’s technical director was made as England returned from the World Cup last summer. Ashworth, 47, who is joining Premier League Brighton, felt it was the right time to go after seeing England reach the semi-finals. He said: ‘When we landed — I’ll never forget this — coming back from Russia, it occurred to me that it would be another four-and-ahalf years before we did this again. ‘After so long I’d missed the day-to-day part of being at a club and always felt that I’d go back into club football.’