Paul Mitchell’s time on Tyneside looks to be over before it ever really got going.
Yesterday’s surprise announcement confirmed our sporting director will depart at the end of June less than 12 months on from his arrival. However, the club insists this will not impact our summer transfer plans, which have already been drawn up after months of recruitment meetings.
An in-depth piece has since emerged from Mark Douglas on Mitchell’s imminent departure, discussing what could be next, why he’s due to depart on good terms and our ongoing search for a CEO to replace Darren Eales.
Writing for the i Paper, Douglas reveals one surprise contender and one familiar name that may be one to watch as Newcastle consider their options ahead of Mitchell’s exit.
Former Newcastle United striker Demba Ba is thought to have admirers on Tyneside, having done a sensational job at Ligue 2 club Dunkerque.
The 40-year-old was close to being named Rennes’ director of football and is a huge fan of the work Eddie Howe has done at Newcastle, although it remains to be seen what direction Eales’ replacement will take.
A long-term target mentioned by Douglas is Dougie Freedman; the former Crystal Palace chief who was high on Newcastle’s wishlist last summer until he opted to stay at Selhurst Park.
Interestingly, however, he is now at PIF-owned Al-Diriyah in Saudi Arabia, so it remains to be seen if the club will reignite their interest in the 51-year-old Glaswegian.
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Mitchell was brought in by Darren Eales and it’s thought our departing sporting director feels now may be the best time to leave, on ‘good terms, as we prepare to bring in a new CEO.
Eales will be replaced to support his recovery from a blood cancer diagnosis and the i Paper report that Newcastle are now ‘close’ to finding a new chief executive to replace the former Spurs and Atlanta United man.
Douglas writes: ‘The word from inside St James’ Park is that the club’s future direction may now be dictated by the chief executive who replaces Eales.
‘That process is understood to be close to a conclusion, with several well-known figures in football in the running.’
Who will arrive as CEO remains to be seen, with Man Utd’s Colette Roche linked. Former Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham had been considered, but he has now agreed to join Tottenham.