Dan Ashworth returns to FA | OneFootball

Former Manchester United director of football Dan Ashworth is expected to be announced as the Football Association's new head of elite development for both the men's and women's games.

Ashworth departed Manchester United in December after a brief five-month tenure, having been recruited from Newcastle United by Ineos.

The 54-year-old previously served with the FA between 2012 and 2018, where he led programs for the elite men's and women's national teams and was responsible for coach education and development.

His fresh remit will include driving the progression of domestic coaching talent.

Currently, just two permanent Premier League managers are English, and FA chief executive Mark Bullingham recently acknowledged that the organisation is taking steps to tackle this concern.

Ashworth is also anticipated to manage the next phase of upgrades at St George's Park, the training base for England’s national squads.

The FA has so far declined to issue a public statement.

Back in February, financial documents from Manchester United revealed that Ashworth's recruitment and subsequent departure came at a cost of £4.1 million. It remains unclear whether any of that expenditure will be offset by his return to the FA.

In a BBC Sport interview earlier this year, United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe admitted that bringing Ashworth on board was “a mistake on our part.”