ยท 27 May 2025, 13:22
**Not even a year after taking the job as Newcastle United's sporting director, Paul Mitchell will leave the club by mutual consent at the end of June.**
There are no details behind the decision as yet, but fans are rightly concerned with the timing of the announcement.
It comes just two days after the end of the Premier League season and a few days before the first of two transfer windows will open.
Paul Mitchell is yet to make a meaningful signing for Newcastle's first team, and while he will get credit for any players who may arrive in this first, short transfer window, he will have left the club before the main window opens later in the month.
> [](https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/1927335110984052842)
Paul Mitchell has announced his decision to leave Newcastle United
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Newcastle United made a statement [via their website](https://www.newcastleunited.com/en/news/paul-mitchell-to-leave-newcastle-united) confirming that Mitchell will be leaving and also confirmed that CEO Darren Eales will be leaving in the near future for health reasons, but we already knew this was happening.
Mitchell made a statement about his decision, but again, few details have been given.
> "I'd like to thank everyone at Newcastle United for their support over the last year, including Eddie Howe, Becky Langley, the players, staff, owners and fans. It has been an honour to be part of the club and to work with some incredible people."I'm leaving at a time that is right for me and the club, particularly with Darren Eales - someone who I have worked so closely with in my career - moving on soon."The club is in great hands on and off the pitch, and is in a fantastic position to continue building.
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> "I'd like to wish everyone connected with Newcastle United a bright and successful future."
We're not sure we agree with Paul Mitchell's idea of 'right time'
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We fail to see how 'a time right for the club' is less than a year after coming in and not having actually done anything to improve the first team, but okay.
Mitchell's arrival came at a disruptive time for the club, and now his departure is likely to have the same effect.
Something is clearly wrong at the club when it comes to sporting directors and all we can think of is that Eddie Howe wants too much control over transfers - and we don't blame him, he's the one who has to coach and play the players, so he should get final say on who the club signs, but unfortunately, that's not the way it works these days, and it seems Howe doesn't like it. Again, though, that's purely speculation on our part.
Our main concern is the status of any transfers that may have already been worked on
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We just hope that this doesn't affect our transfer window too much. All the targets should already be identified, and the club should be working on them.
However, any players who we've spoken to who were sold on the club because of Paul Mitchell may now be having second thoughts, so thanks for that, Paul.
Let's be honest, it wouldn't be a Newcastle United off-season without a heavy dose of drama, would it?