With Paul Mitchell now gone after staying in position until the end of June, you’d like to think Newcastle United’s search for a new sporting director is nearing a conclusion.

The Telegraph reported yesterday that Jason Ayto is now the ‘prime target’ for the position, suggesting the former Arsenal chief is closing in on the job.

However, another name is now thought to be battling the out-of-work 40-year-old for the vacancy, while one Premier League director has dropped out of the running…

Ward drops out and two

Liverpool’s Julian Ward is ‘no longer in running’ for Newcastle United’s sporting director position with it now set to be a two-horse race, according to The Mail’s Craig Hope.

Ward currently works as Technical Director of Liverpool and has developed his reputation as a respected football operations strategist in his time on Merseyside.

Ward would have arrived with a strong reputation for blending analytics with talent ID, also having a deep understanding of scouting networks – though the same would have undoubtedly been said about Dan Ashworth.

But with Ward no longer an option, Hope reports that the two ‘leading contenders’ are Nottingham Forest chief football officer Ross Wilson and Jason Ayto, who worked closely with Edu at Arsenal as their assistant director of football.

Clarity needed at the top

When PIF took on the project at Newcastle United in October 2021 the club was in disarray and needed rebuilding from the ground up, but now uncertainty at the top is seeping down through the club.

Paul Mitchell’s departure will see us change sporting director for the third consecutive summer. It’s hardly a strong foundation to build from, and becomes an even bigger problem with sides around us completing business early into the window.

Complete clarity is needed at the top, with a new CEO also required as Darren Eales is waiting to leave following a blood cancer diagnosis last year. It leaves fans with more questions in a window shrouded with uncertainty.