(Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Ciaran Morrison

Tue 19 May 2026 18:00, UK

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Newcastle United need to ensure they make the most of any new training ground by hiring the best scouts to find young talent.

That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, as James Fowler is expected to join the club from Rangers.

Fowler will take up the position of Newcastle’s Scouting Operations Manager, with the Magpies set to announce plans to build a new state-of-the-art training facility.

The plans have been in the pipeline under Newcastle’s Saudi owners, and they look set to finally be given the green light after delayed decision-making.

Newcastle could benefit from more talent coming through the club, as manager Eddie Howe faces limitations over how much he can spend in the transfer market.

James Fowler has ‘chance’ to succeed at Newcastle with ‘great facilities’

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – is not convinced that Fowler is the right man to lead Newcastle’s scouting operations.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness states that Newcastle’s new training ground could prove very “effective” for the club.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “There has to be a proper long-term strategy of how Newcastle are going to bring that talent in and how they can actually utilise this facility to make it work and be effective.

“Very few clubs have been able to succeed in doing that. Newcastle have a chance to do it. Is Fowler the guy? I’m not quite sure. The success hasn’t been there from what I can see at Rangers.

“Other clubs may have been better used as a model. But they see something in him for whatever reason, and he’s got a chance now to get it going with great facilities. So let’s see what they can do.

“If they announce this facility shortly, that will be one of the big reasons why they’ve got to bring in the best scouts they can find.”

Anthony Gordon on verge of Newcastle departure

Howe could already be preparing for next season, as the Newcastle boss has left Anthony Gordon on the bench in the past three matches.

The 25-year-old is expected to leave the club in the summer transfer window as part of Howe’s rebuild of the squad.

Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson told Football Insider that Bayern Munich may already have a deal done to sign Gordon.

Gordon could join England team-mate Harry Kane at the Bundesliga club, with Newcastle expected to receive around £60million from the sale.