Newcastle United’s sporting director, Paul Mitchell, has conducted regular discussions with various departments.
Despite reports of political upheaval at St James’ Park, Newcastle United’s sporting director Paul Mitchell has the full support of the club’s Saudi-backers PIF.
Mitchell, together with CEO Darren Eales, performance director James Bunce, and commercial chief Peter Silverstone, have been entrusted with reducing the gap on the Premier League’s top five clubs while also addressing long-term issues that PIF invested in 2021. The club denied a Sunday allegation, which was picked up by aggregators, that Mitchell would quit before Eddie Howe if the power struggle remained behind the scenes.
However, the message from the top is that Newcastle chiefs want Howe to collaborate with Mitchell and the executive staff. The head coach declared after the transfer window that he had not spoken with Mitchell before claiming to have consulted with a “senior board member” on Friday.
Mitchell has been focussing on improving the club’s other areas since the transfer window and has met often with Academy boss Steve Harper. United are set to confirm the signing of Diarmuid O’Carroll from St Mirren to coach the reserve squad and oversee the Under-21s.
Mitchell has also attended numerous discussions with the scouting department since his public accusation that the recruitment area was “unfit for purpose” Newcastle insiders told Chronicle Live that his relationship with club scouts has been “very good” thus far.
In addition, Mitchell has given NUFC Women’s team manager Becky Langley a new contract, with the long-serving coach confirming on Sunday after the 2-0 win over Sheff United at Kingston Park that she speaks with the former Monaco sporting director almost every day.According to Magpie Channel TV, Langley discussed her meetings with Mitchell since his appointment.
Mitchell and Eales were in attendance for the NUFC Women’s victory over the Blades on Sunday afternoon, less than 24 hours after suffering a 3-1 defeat at Fulham.
United’s short-term aim under Mitchell is to have a strong list of targets for the January transfer window. Scouts have begun to take in games under a new look system, with Mitchell eager to ensure Howe has the correct list of choices during the winter trading period.
Howe had only £15 million to spend on William Osula during the summer window, and no additional signings were made during the January selling period. Newcastle might offload high-earners like Kieran Trippier, who is rumoured to be open to a move, in the coming window while contract negotiations are concluded.
Sean Longstaff, Dan Burn, Callum Wilson, Emil Krafth, Martin Dubravka, Jamaal Lascelles, and Mark Gillespie’s contracts will all expire. At his last press conference, Howe stated that he wanted to keep Longstaff, while also emphasising the risk of losing players for nothing if new contracts were not signed, but there is room for a squad makeover in the summer of 2025.
Last summer, Howe recommended that Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie be offered extensions, only to be vetoed by club officials after the Magpies failed to qualify for Europe.
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