Ahead of a busy summer transfer window, perhaps the last news Newcastle needed was that their current sporting director was to leave at the end of June.
Lasting just a year in the role, Paul Mitchell and the club announced they had come to a mutual agreement over the 45-year-old’s departure.
And unlike predecessor Dan Ashworth, who less-than-amicably left for Manchester United, Mitchell could be set for an interesting new role well outside of the Premier League.
According to a new report, Newcastle United’s Paul Mitchell is a candidate to become the new sporting director at Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal.
According to [talkSport’s](https://talksport.com/football/3252432/newcastle-paul-mitchell-al-hilal-sporting-director/) Ben Jacobs, Mitchell is part of a three man shortlist to assume the role in Riyadh.
Alongside Mitchell, Michael Edwards is reportedly another candidate for the role, but is said to be content in his current role as FSG’s CEO of football.
However, it seems like Al-Hilal are looking to prioritise the search for their new manager before appointing their next sporting director, where Simone Inzaghi’s widely tipped to depart Inter Milan after their Champions League final defeat.
It’s marked an interesting shift in approach for the Saudi Pro League, focusing less on players and instead opting for well regarded personnel like Mitchell.
Former Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman, who himself was linked with our sporting director role, made the switch from Oliver Glasner’s side to Saudi second division side Al-Diriyah.
By all accounts, the writing was on the wall for Paul Mitchell on Tyneside, and we look to have made the right decision for the time being backing Eddie Howe and those closer to the gaffer than Mitchell.
Though this news does provide an interesting take on whether Mitchell’s departure was really as mutual as has been reported.
There’s no doubt we still recognise Mitchell for his immense connections and experience, the fact he’s remaining in the PIF system (we share owners with Al-Hilal) could indicate that we’re keen to avoid Mitchell going to a competitor like Dan Ashworth did?