FA technical director Dan Ashworth to join Premier League club Brighton

Dan Ashworth has left the Football Association to become Brighton’s technical director.

The 47-year-old has held the same role with the national governing body since 2012 and is considered by many in the game to be at least partly responsible for England’s significant upturn in results, particularly at age-group level and in women’s football.

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However, the former West Brom technical director has made little secret of his ambition to return to club football at some stage and his work at the FA’s national football centre at St George’s Park has attracted several suitors.

As has been widely reported in recent days, Ashworth has picked Brighton and is expected to be placed in charge of the Premier League club’s training centre at Lancing, where he will work closely with manager Chris Hughton and academy boss Paul Winstanley.

A former Norwich defender, Ashworth has also held senior development roles at Peterborough and Cambridge and was linked with Manchester United earlier this year.

Brighton later confirmed Ashworth’s appointment, announcing that he will begin his role with the club in the spring of next year.

Ashworth will oversee the club’s academy and medical departments, as well as player recruitment at all levels.

Brighton chairman Tony Bloom said: “There’s no doubting Dan’s standing in the game, and we are absolutely delighted that he will be joining us as technical director.”

Press Association