Newcastle United have still not replaced Paul Mitchell since the sporting director departed by mutual consent at the end of June, after under a year in the role
Former Newcastle United sporting director Paul Mitchell (left) and former Arsenal chief Jason Ayto
Former Newcastle United sporting director Paul Mitchell (left) and former Arsenal chief Jason Ayto
Jason Ayto is said to be in line for a role at Brighton and Hove Albion despite reportedly interviewing with Newcastle United earlier this summer.
Ayto applied for the sporting director role vacated by Paul Mitchell this summer after being put on gardening leave by Arsenal. The former Gunners assistant sporting director spent almost a decade at the north London club before leaving after the appointment of Andrea Berta.
Arsenal considered promoting Ayto permanently after taking over from Edu Gaspar, who resigned in early November, on an interim basis. Brighton, however, also has an opening after David Weir left the club last week.
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They confirmed their technical director's departure on Friday, and the Daily Mail has since claimed that Ayto is due to replace him. Their report adds that Newcastle are expected to appoint Nottingham Forest chief football officer Ross Wilson, whom the club's hierarchy admires.
Former chief executive Darren Eales conducted a comprehensive handover process this month before stepping down following the appointment of David Hopkinson as their new CEO last week.
That appointment at boardroom level will be pleasing for head coach Eddie Howe, after stressing the necessity of filling both roles during the club's pre-season tour earlier this summer.
"It's really important we fill those positions as quickly as possible, but also with the best people possible," he said in Seoul this summer. Again, I would probably urge the club to make the right decision over speed, because the long term is the most important for Newcastle.
"We are working effectively, albeit in a very different way. We've got people who are very actively involved at the board level, filling those gaps, so I don't think we're necessarily harmed by what is going on; it's just the window and the transfer market itself is the problem, not the workings behind the scenes."
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