Football News Update: Paul Mitchell Appointed as Newcastle United’s New Sporting Director
In a move aimed at mitigating the impact of losing Dan Ashworth to Manchester United, Newcastle United have appointed Paul Mitchell as their new sporting director. Mitchell, who most recently held the same role at Monaco, brings a wealth of experience to the St. James’ Park club, having previously served in senior executive positions at RB Leipzig, Tottenham, and Southampton, with a focus on recruitment.
The 42-year-old, whose playing career was cut short by injury at the age of 27, initially transitioned into scouting and has now filled the void left by Ashworth’s departure to Old Trafford. The move comes after a period of negotiation between Newcastle and Manchester United over Ashworth’s compensation, which was finally resolved last weekend.
“I’ve seen the recent growth and ambition of the club,” Mitchell said. “This, plus the amazing fanbase, made the decision to join an easy one. I can’t wait to help continue the organisation’s growth and long-term competitiveness in all areas of elite football performance.”
It is understood that Mitchell will have a greater emphasis on recruitment than his predecessor, but will still be involved in various aspects of the club’s operations, including the management of the women’s team. His appointment comes at a crucial time for Newcastle, who have narrowly avoided a potential points deduction for possible breaches of Profit and Sustainability rules (PSR) by selling Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson to Brighton and Nottingham Forest respectively for an initial sum of around £60m.
Reaching a settlement with Manchester United has helped the club’s efforts to balance their books, and with a new PSR cycle beginning this week, Newcastle are expected to reinforce Eddie Howe’s playing squad, with Mitchell set to play a key role in this process.
Darren Eales, Newcastle’s chief executive and another former Tottenham employee, praised Mitchell’s appointment, stating that his “extensive and diverse experience in football leadership, cultural change and recruitment mean he is the ideal person to lead our sporting directorate.”
In other news, Newcastle’s midfielder Lewis Miley is expected to be sidelined until October after sustaining a freak foot injury in training. The 18-year-old, who had impressed after breaking into the first team last season, had returned to the club early from international duty with the England Under-20s in March due to a back injury, but is now scheduled to undergo surgery on Monday, with a three-month layoff anticipated.
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