Baggies want Ashworth to find successor

11 September 2012 13:47

West Brom want Dan Ashworth to head-hunt his own replacement as sporting and technical director before he moves to become head of the Football Association's technical department, Press Association Sport understands.

Albion are resigned to losing the services of Ashworth after a five-year spell at the Hawthorns and he will be in charge of operations at the FA's new national football centre at Burton.

The FA have asked West Brom about the possibility of buying Ashworth out of the 12-month notice period he must serve under the terms of his contract.

Football's governing body are keen to make an appointment as quickly as possible. But Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace wants to keep Ashworth at the helm until the end of the current campaign while he seeks out a successor.

Ashworth joined West Brom in December 2007 and has been a leading figure behind the scenes in establishing Albion as a Barclays Premier League club.

He was responsible for the recruitment of key players such as striker Peter Odemwingie - top scorer for the past two seasons - as well as midfielders Youssouf Mulumbu and Claudio Yacob.

Ashworth will be reunited with former Albion head coach Roy Hodgson who is now England manager when he eventually moves to the FA.

He has also worked with the Baggies in helping to develop their academy.

Source: PA