Newcastle United fans are hoping that new appointments are made throughout the club in the coming weeks, including a new sporting director following Paul Mitchell’s departure.
Throughout the summer, the Magpies have been functioning on less than 100%.
It was announced in May that Paul Mitchell was leaving Newcastle United after just 12 months in his role of sporting director. The 43-year-old failed to make a major signing before his departure, though he did make promising additions to Newcastle’s academy.
Reports suggest that Nottingham Forest chief Ross Wilson is set to replace Mitchell at Newcastle, but there has been no confirmation of his appointment just yet.
Elsewhere, Newcastle need a new CEO after it was revealed that Darren Eales has been diagnosed with blood cancer. The 53-year-old has been working his notice since the announcement in August last year, but there has been no confirmation of his successor either.
While Newcastle look to find a replacement for Mitchell and Eales, the club must step up their search for a replacement in another area.
Alfie Harrison looks deflated during a Premier League 2 game between Newcastle United and Chelsea.
Photo by Harriet Massey/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Newcastle United have to appoint a new Under-21s manager urgently
Newcastle’s academy is brimming with talent who have joined in recent years. Fans are waiting for the day the next Lewis Miley comes out from the youth ranks and into the first team, but at this point in time, the Under-21s are struggling.
Earlier this summer, it was confirmed that Diarmuid O’Carroll had left Newcastle after less than a year in the role of Under-21s head coach. The Irishman joined the first team staff at Czech Republic side Sparta Prague, an offer he could not refuse.
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However, O’Carroll had done an excellent job in the short time he was in the role of Under-21s head coach, guiding the Magpies to the Premier League 2 play-offs when they looked far off it at the start of the season.
Our U21s are in action this evening as they host Chelsea at Whitley Park [kick-off 7pm]
You can watch this evening's game live on the Official Newcastle United App 📲
Best of luck, lads! 💪 pic.twitter.com/hqakuq2uVK
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) August 22, 2025
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With the Premier League 2 season back underway, Newcastle have unfortunately endured a losing start to the season. Lewis Hall and Harrison Ashby played in a defeat against Southampton, while Seung-soo Park started in Newcastle Under-21s’ 5-0 loss to Chelsea on Friday night.
Chelsea have a fantastic academy side, but Newcastle have enough quality to start competing with these teams. Former Rochdale head coach Robbie Stockdale is currently the interim coach of Newcastle’s under-21s, which is a good appointment given his experience in the professional game and youth teams. But it is clear that a permanent appointment is needed before the season gets too far away from the Young Magpies.
Stockdale would likely resume at the club under a new manager, taking the role of assistant manager.
Garang Kuol’s Newcastle United Under-21s absence explained
Newcastle have been playing a strong squad, but have been missing Australian attacker Garang Kuol for their opening two games.
There was speculation that Kuol could leave Newcastle this summer, but with the transfer window now in its final few days, it looks as though the 20-year-old will stay on Tyneside for another year.
Kuol’s contract runs out in 2026, so this could be his last season to make something of his Newcastle career and prove why his move from the Central Coast Mariners was the right move for the club to make.
READ MORE:Who is Garang Kuol? Height, Position, Transfer, Family and More
The Young Magpies take on Birmingham City in their next game, and a report from the Shields Gazette has confirmed that Kuol is in contention to feature in that game.
Kuol was named on the bench for both of Newcastle’s friendlies at St James’ Park in August, but failed to make an appearance.