Did Ashworth become the 'sacrificial lamb' at United?

Former West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker believes Dan Ashworth leaving his role as sporting director at Manchester United shows it is "a club that is continuing to show they lack direction".

Ashworth officially started at United on 1 July, having spent five months on gardening leave at former club Newcastle, and eventually cost between £2-3m in compensation.

"Am I shocked? No," Reo-Coker told the Football Daily podcast. "We've looked at Manchester United recently and there have been so many strange decisions.

"You look at keeping Erik ten Hag when everyone knew he was only keeping the seat warm for the next one. It shows how dysfunctional they were as a football club.

"How do you go so hard to get Dan Ashworth in from Newcastle - you pay compensation, bring him in, wait for him, then give him five months.

"For me it makes it seem that Ashworth has become the sacrificial lamb for what is going on - for Ten Hag staying and the transfer windows they have had. Someone had to pay the price.

"It is a club continuing to show it lacks direction and does not know what it is trying to achieve. It continues to be dysfunctional and continues to show them in a very negative light.

"It was a bad decision. I don't understand why you work so hard to bring him in there. It really doesn't make sense. Why bring in Ashworth, then have Omar Berrada above him and no relationship between the two?"

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds