Newcastle United Sporting Director ranked top five in new report on added value | OneFootball

Newcastle United Sporting Director Ross Wilson has figured prominently in a new report.

Industry advisors Transfer Room have done a study looking at sporting directors and how they have performed at the various clubs.

The report ranking based them on the value added to their club’s squad from incoming transfers.

The now departed Manchester City’s Txiki Begiristain has been placed at the very top.

Whilst recently appointed Newcastle United Sporting Director Ross Wilson, is ranked fifth highest in the list, based on the transfer activity he oversaw at Nottingham Forest and Rangers.

‘A number of current and former Premier League club sporting directors have featured in the top 10 of a study ranking the value they have added to their club’s squad from incoming transfers.

Departed Manchester City executive Txiki Begiristain came out top, while ex-Crystal Palace director Dougie Freedman, Newcastle’s Ross Wilson and Brentford’s Phil Giles also ranked inside the top 10 in the review carried out by industry advisors Transfer Room.

Freedman, who left Crystal Palace for a position in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, placed third in the study – behind Begiristain and Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Timmo Hardung.

The Scot, who was responsible for the signings of Eberechi Eze, Michael Elise, Marc Guehi, Daniel Munoz, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Adam Wharton among others, added a net value of €374m (£328m) to the Eagles’ roster from the €436m (£382m) spent on 29 transfers.

Current Newcastle sporting director Ross Wilson placed in fifth, adding a net value of €319m (£280m) from a €366m (£321m) investment on 36 transfers during spells with Nottingham Forest and Rangers.

Brentford’s sporting director Phil Giles, who played a key role in the signings of Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo, Yoann Wissa and Ollie Watkins for the west London club, ranked seventh – adding a net value of €300m (£263m) to their squad following an investment of €114m (£100m) on 20 players.’

My thoughts

Any kind of study such as this one on Sporting Directors, is always going to depend on the criteria they decide to use.

However, at the same time, nice to see Ross Wilson appear on the list in a prominent position.

What I think does look clear, is that Wilson feels like a lot better fit as Newcastle United Sporting Director, than Paul Mitchell ever did.

Exactly how much credit or blame should be attached to any Sporting Director is open to question, especially as at various clubs, they can have very different levels of influence.

If a club ends up successful long-term with the same Sporting Director in place for a good number of years, then for sure the person in that role will be amongst those who can be credited with playing a significant role in it as part of the club’s management team.

Here’s hoping Ross Wilson will prove a long-term appointment at a successful Newcastle United, with both Dan Ashworth