‘A real issue’ - Sir Jim Ratcliffe fires second dig at Newcastle United for hardball Dan Ashworth stance

Manchester United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has called gardening leave “a real issue” in football amid the ongoing Dan Ashworth saga.

Toon chiefs were rocked in February when Ashworth announced his desire to join the Red Devils. The Saudi-backed regime made the 53-year-old one of their first key boardroom appointments less than two years ago.

Man United had previously pursued Ashworth - an offer he rejected - but Ratcliffe’s arrival proved the turning point. The Ineos billionaire has been given full sporting control by the Glazers and headhunted the Newcastle director as a top target.

However, the Magpies, who placed Ashworth on gardening leave until 2026, have held firm on their robust £20million compensation price. Ratcliffe called those demands “silly” earlier this year and recently met with Amanda Staveley to try and break the impasse.

Speaking at the London Marathon, the 71-year-old doubled down on his frustrations at not being able to land Ashworth - firing a thinly-veiled swipe at Newcastle. He said: “In the marathon, after the 30k it gets quite difficult and I don't think we're quite at 30k in the football at the minute. We're not even (at a half marathon) yet either. We're probably at 10k.

“One of the biggest problems in football is getting these new guys to come into the team but they're all on gardening leave, so it takes you six, 12 or even 18 months before they come in. It's a real issue in football. To make a change you need to bring new people in.

“They can't work for us and the fans are impatient and I knew that but it's a journey and people, whether they like it or not, have to be patient. It's not a sprint we can't just turn it around like that but I'm sure we will.”