‘Paul Mitchell was butting heads at Newcastle – I’ve been gathering intelligence’
Newcastle United will part with sporting director Paul Mitchell at the end of June in the midst of a key summer window for the club.
The Magpies are expected to strengthen heavily after securing Champions League qualification at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
However, they have decided to part with Mitchell by mutual consent after under a year at St James’ Park – after widespread reports of clashes between the transfer guru and manager Eddie Howe.
The Daily Mail reported earlier this month (10 June) that Nottingham Forest chief Ross Wilson has had contact with Nolan Partners – who are leading the search for a replacement.
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 – has had his say on the Scot being drafted in at Newcastle this summer.
Wilson to Newcastle is unlikely, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness claimed he doesn’t believe Wilson is a good fit for Newcastle.
The 41-year-old has held sporting director roles at Forest, Rangers, Southampton and Huddersfield.
Wyness insisted Newcastle must make a more technical appointment after Mitchell “butted heads” with staff at St James’ Park.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I know of Ross, but I looked a little bit further into the story.
“The link in the story has come from the fact that Nolan Partners, who are a headhunting company and have been doing the search for different sporting directors around the country for different clubs, have been in contact with Ross.
“Now, just because a headhunter has been in touch doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to actually happen.
“I think it’s doubtful. I actually don’t think it’s a great fit.
“But we’ve seen with Paul Mitchell at Newcastle, perhaps too big a personality, too big a character to fit with Eddie Howe.
“Certainly, Ross would fit that of not being such a big character and a much more technician. That may fit and that’s the reason it may have some credence, but overall I just don’t get the feeling that’s the right match at the moment.
“I’m doubtful it’s gonna happen, but it’s one of those that could be possible given the fit of personalities.
“That’s going to be the biggest thing now. You’ve got to have that cohesive team working together and from day one it seemed that Paul Mitchell was butting heads and it seemed that’s why it was such a short tenure, whereas I don’t think that would happen with Ross.
“So there is a possibility. But my gut feeling is and my intelligence is that it’s not quite as far advanced at least as the media are reporting at the moment.”
Newcastle get PSR boost after £72m reveal
Meanwhile, Football Insider has revealed (26 June) that Newcastle are set for a financial boost as a £72million loss is about to drop out of their Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) calculations.
The Tyneside club have struggled to comply with the PSR rules since Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) secured its £305million takeover in October 2021.
Under PSR rules, Premier League sides are only permitted to lose £105million over a rolling three-year period.
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