Wolves fans all say the same thing about ex-Newcastle man joining, approach already made
Wolves fans are calling on owner Guo Guangchang to hire Dan Ashworth as their new sporting director after chairman Jeff Shi was sacked.
Wolves have endured a dismal campaign up to now, with just two points taken from 16 games so far under both Vitor Pereira and Rob Edwards.
They are already 14 points from safety before the halfway stage of the season, with relegation on the cards as their eight-year stay in the Premier League nears a sad end.
Wolves fans have protested against their board in recent months, with many calling for owners Fosun to step down and chairman Shi to depart due to the poor management that has led them to this low point.
The Telegraph’s John Percy revealed on Friday that Shi had been relieved of his duties, with Fosun chief Guangchang feeling that change was “urgently needed”, and Wolves supporters have now urged their owner to get Ashworth in to run the club.
Who is Dan Ashworth?
Ashworth is a highly respected figure in English football, having held various senior roles behind the scenes with a number of Premier League clubs over the years.
He initially made his name in his post-playing career as the sporting and technical director of West Brom between 2007 and 2012, before he was appointed as the FA’s director of elite development.
The 54-year-old was credited with helping England become successful under Gareth Southgate in the years that followed, before he departed for Brighton in 2019 and then became Newcastle‘s sporting director in 2022.
Ashworth was a resounding success on Tyneside, as he helped oversee their rise from relegation candidates to securing Champions League football as he brought in a swathe of top players, such as Alexander Isak, Sven Botman, Bruno Guimarães, Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali.
Wolves approached Ashworth after being placed on gardening leave by the Magpies last year, but he instead made the move to Man United as Sir Jim Ratcliffe aimed to overhaul their transfer strategy.
Ashworth was sacked by United in December of last year after just five months in the role as his viewpoint was not aligned with that of INEOS’, and he subsequently became the FA’s first Chief Football Officer in May.
Wolves fans want Ashworth in after Shi’s exit to steer them back to success
Matt Hobbs left his role as Wolves’ sporting director in the summer, with Domenico Teti hired in his place before he also departed last month along with Pereira.
Shi’s exit now means there are numerous gaps to fill among the clubs hierarchy, and their supporters have made it clear that they want to see the revered Ashworth brought in to work his magic.
Taking to X after news of Shi’s departure, one fan said: “Guo Guangchang, show some ambition and get Dan Ashworth in and let him run the club from top to bottom.”
Another said: “Now get Dan Ashworth in to work with the new Shi and we can all move on with this nightmare.”
While one supporter added: “If Wolves & Fosun are serious about being a Premier League club again, then we need to get rid of all these useless yes men & appoint proven football professionals like Laurie Dalrymple & Dan Ashworth. Then build a strong team in the Championship.”