Manchester United women's team manager Marc Skinner said Dan Ashworth's departure is "part of the game."

Ashworth's exit from his role as sporting director at Old Trafford was confirmed on Sunday morning and Skinner was informed before managing against Liverpool on that afternoon.

United pushed hard to land Ashworth, who was seen as an ally for Skinner and United women's team, from Newcastle at the start of the year but he spent just five months in the role.

Skinner was asked about Ashworth's departure after winning against Liverpool at Leigh Sports Village and said: "My job was to concentrate on how we are on the pitch.

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"That's my focus. I'm not privy to those decisions. I think it's part of the professional game. You have to take situations and make the best of them. I can't let that creep into our performances."

Skinner praised Ashworth in September and said: "Dan is coming in this morning to speak to the players again, as he’s already been two or three times, about what it means to be at Manchester United, what we want to achieve. That shows the positivity around the club.

“I want to win a title this year. I don’t make excuses. I never have done. The energy that Dan, Omar, and the whole club are bringing towards the women’s team is so exciting."

Some have suggested the women's team has become an overthought since Ratcliffe's investment into the club, but Ashworth was praised for his personal involvement with the side.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe was asked about the women's team in an interview with United We Stand magazine and responded: "There’s only so much that you can do and our focus has been on the men’s team. If not, you get spread too thinly. We need to sort out the main issue, the men’s team.

"The women’s team is an opportunity. Women’s football is growing really quickly in popularity and size. We need to participate in that. The girls wear a Manchester United badge on their shirt and they’re representing the club."