Newcastle United issued a statement, confirming that Sporting Director Dan Ashworth would be placed on gardening leave, having informed the Premier League club of his intention to depart. The 52-year-old has been strongly linked with a transfer to Manchester United ever since British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe acquired a 25% stake in the Old Trafford club.
British media sources later revealed on Monday that United have formally approached Ashworth, who joined Newcastle in 2022 from Brighton & Hove Albion, where he served as technical director. “We are naturally disappointed that Dan has chosen to leave, however our exciting journey doesn’t stop and the process to recruit a new sporting director will begin immediately,” Newcastle CEO Darren Eales said in a statement.
“We thank Dan for his efforts at Newcastle United and we wish him and his family well for the future.”
WHAT IS GARDENING LEAVE?
Gardening leave, also known as garden leave, is a practice in the employment sector where an employee who is leaving their job—either because they have resigned or have been terminated—is instructed to stay away from work during their notice period. Despite not being required to come into the workplace or perform their daily duties, the employee remains on the company’s payroll throughout this period. This concept is particularly prevalent in the UK but is also recognized and implemented in various forms around the world, including countries like Australia and Singapore, especially for senior roles.
The primary purpose of gardening leave is to protect the company’s interests. It prevents outgoing employees from immediately joining a competitor or starting work that could be in direct competition with their current employer. During this leave, employees are often restricted from sharing sensitive information or insights with competitors, adhering to the terms and conditions of their employment contract, which may include confidentiality agreements and restrictive covenants.
One notable instance of gardening leave in the sports and business world involves Dan Ashworth, who was placed on gardening leave by Newcastle United amid interest from Manchester United. In February 2022, Ashworth agreed to join Newcastle United as Sporting Director. However, by February 2024, it was reported that Manchester United had shown interest in appointing him to a similar role within their organization. Consequently, Newcastle confirmed they had placed Ashworth on gardening leave following this development.