Newcastle United ‘close’ to breakthrough decision – backing for director from key insiders

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Newcastle United ‘close’ to breakthrough decision – backing for director from key insiders

Liam Kennedy

4 – 5 minutes

Newcastle United are close to appointing a sporting director – and a leading candidate has near unanimous backing from within.

Newcastle United are in desperate need of a sporting director. But can they get a sporting director to come and put his finger prints all over the summer transfer window from hell? That’s the biggest question.

Nottingham Forest director of football Kyriakos Dourekas (L) and Chief Football Officer Ross Wilson during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest at Molineux on December 09, 2023 in Wolverhampton, England. placeholder image

Nottingham Forest director of football Kyriakos Dourekas (L) and Chief Football Officer Ross Wilson during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest at Molineux on December 09, 2023 in Wolverhampton, England. | Getty Images

It’s understood the Magpies are edging closer to appointing Paul Mitchell’s successor – and it appears as if Nottingham Forest’s Ross Wilson is the man set to take the helm. The former Rangers and Southampton director is set to step in where controversial Mitchell stepped out.

But, if he gets appointed, as expected, Wilson will be walking into a less than straight-forward situation at St James’ Park. This summer, like last, is turning into a nightmare for the Magpies. While last year it was all about PSR sales and protecting crown jewels, whilst also not really being able to spend, this one has seen similar angst, but very different problems. This time around the cash has been there, but parting with it has been the issue – and then there’s the resolution of Alexander Isak and the Liverpool transfer saga.

New NUFC sporting director role

It wouldn’t be Newcastle United if things were straight forward. And, really, that’s where a sporting director comes in. Not only to take some of the burden in relation to deals, but also push wider cohesion and strategy. This can’t come soon enough, even if it might well come too soon to really impact the death throes of Newcastle’s hell-born summer trading window.

What the Magpies need is someone to rebuild broken relationships – which fractured out of control with Mitchell at the helm, according to sources, and also to widen trading expertise, contacts and relationships. As well as that, though, they need, ultimately, to build a solid working relationship with those already in position at the football club. This was something grasped by Dan Ashworth, but not at all by Mitchell.

One of those key relationships is with the manager. Working together for the same goals and on the same page represents the perfect relationship between the two. Again, it didn’t work with Mitchell, but Ashworth showed it can, to some extent, be done.

A common misconception is that Eddie Howe is not keen to work with a sporting director. This is not the case. Essentially, Howe wants one – but it needs to be one he can build a strong bond with. He explained the importance of the role a few weeks back. He said: “It was a difficult summer [to switch off] with everything going on behind the scenes – obviously losing Paul and all of the dynamics changing within.

“The sporting director role is such a pivotal role at the club, so there was a lot of work to pick up. There has been a lot of work, transfer-wise, for very little incoming action, although we are delighted to get Anthony Elanga in, who has done very well in training so far. But a lot more work is needed behind the scenes in preparation for the new season.”

And NewcastleWorld has learned that Wilson is the preferred candidate among staff members within the club, as he already has a healthy working relationship with many of them. Essentially, should he be appointed, he could hit the ground running and there is already a synergy with staff members – so important, due to its absence when Mitchell was around.

It is those already solid connections that have put him ahead of other candidates for the position.

Ross Wilson – his career to date

Head of football development and administration – Falkirk FC -2004-2011

Football business director – Watford FC – 2011-2012

Head of football operations and board member – Huddersfield Town FC – 2012-2015

Director of football operations and board member – Southampton FC – 2015-2019

Sporting director and board member – Rangers FC – 2019-2023

Chief football officer and sporting director – Nottingham Forest FC – 2023-present