With Newcastle United’s new owners still searching to appoint a director of football after having Michael Emenalo reportedly turn down an offer from the club, the latest name on their list is apparently Dan Ashworth, who is currently working as Brighton & Hove Albion’s technical director.
Earlier this week, Sky Sports confirmed that Ashworth is of interest for the director’s role at Newcastle, claiming that the Tyneside club have granted permission to speak to the 50-year-old about the position.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT about the current situation, journalist Keith Downie had this to say on the matter.
He said: “They’re trying to keep their cards close to their chest. I spoke to the consortium yesterday who said they were giving no comment on the Dan Ashworth story.”
Although this update doesn’t reveal much, it should nonetheless be a positive for the Newcastle fans who will no doubt be thrilled after the club’s very public move to hire Unai Emery as Steve Bruce’s successor before appointing Eddie Howe collapsed at the last minute.
Thus, making a more measured and low-key approach to hiring a director of football such as Ashworth would potentially be more beneficial for the club as a whole.
After hiring former Celtic and Reading director Nick Hammond on a short-term deal as a transfer consultant, if Newcastle were able to appoint a full-time director of football before the January transfer window closes, this would surely give the club a big boost in terms of finalising shrewd deals to strengthen Howe’s squad.
Would you be worried if Newcastle didn’t appoint a director before the end of Jan?
Yes
No
Given how Newcastle have only managed to win one of their 18 Premier League games so far this season, drawing seven and losing 10, conceding a total of 41 goals in the process, it’s safe to say Newcastle could do with adding some quality players to their squad as soon as possible, particularly in the defensive areas if they’re going to have any chance of avoiding relegation and having to spend a season in the Championship next year.
If Newcastle don’t end up securing the appointment of Ashworth or any other potential director before the end of January, the pressure will be on the likes of Hammond to do all he can to bring the right players in that he can as well as pressure being on Howe to keep the team in the Premier League.
Unlike their chase of Emery, however, they are at least doing things in the right fashion now. This is a steep learning curve for Amanda Staveley and co but they have clearly taken previous lessons into account. This should leave supporters seeking a brighter future for the football club absolutely thrilled.
In other news: Hammond could save NUFC’s season with “colossal” £24k-p/w beast, “nothing fazes him” – opinion