Likely starting date made public for new Newcastle United Sporting Director | OneFootball

News broke on Friday that a new Newcastle United Sporting Director is set to be officially announced.

Reporting across the media that Ross Wilson had agreed to become the club’s next Newcastle United Sporting Director.

The long-term target landed.

Ross Wilson having been the reported for months as the first choice for Eddie Howe and the Newcastle United owners.

Yesterday’s news added that Newcastle United were in advanced discussions with Nottingham Forest to reach agreement on when exactly Ross Wilson would be able to start work at St James’ Park.

Now it has been made public by various media, including Craig Hope at The Mail, that it is hoped Ross Wilson could be available to start work as the new Newcastle United Sporting Director as early as next week.

Compensation set to be quickly agreed with Forest, rather than an extensive period of gardening leave.

I think high hopes all round that after Dan Ashworth and Paul Mitchell lasted very little time, that finally United have hit on an option that will be long-term.

Ross Wilson already knowing Eddie Howe and having a good relationship with him. Little doubt as well that after Darren Eales brought his mate Paul Mitchell in last time, instead it is Eddie Howe this time who has had the freedom to insist on a Sporting Director who he wants to work with.

Top of the agenda for Ross Wilson once he starts, will be of course planning for January and the transfer windows that follow that one, plus sorting out new contract extensions for key players, with Sandro Tonali likely at the every top of that list. Tonali still has almost three years left on his current contract but I am sure that everybody at NUFC will hope to get that extended before the end of this season.

The Mag report – 23 July 2025:

‘Ross Wilson looks set to come to St James’ Park.

The Athletic say that their understanding is that he is now the first choice of NUFC to become the new Newcastle United Sporting Director.

That vacancy has opened up after Paul Mitchell lasted less than a year in the job.

Ross Wilson has been previously widely reported as having been one of those who has applied for the Newcastle United Sporting Director role, when United invited interest candidates to apply.

Having already signed Anthony Elanga from the City Ground, the Nottingham Forest chief football officer Ross Wilson seemingly set to follow.

Interviews have taken place and The Athletic say that the fact Eddie Howe knows Ross Wilson and has a good relationship with him, could be a key factor – 23 July 2025:

‘The 41-year-old has a good relationship with Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who is involved in the process along with majority shareholders, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and co-owner James Reuben, which is thought to count in his favour.

PIF have also been aware of Wilson for several years, including interest when he was sporting director at Rangers between 2019 and 2023, in which time the club won their first league title for a decade and reached the Europa League final.

Wilson helped take Forest back into European football for the first time in 30 years last season but the Newcastle job would be another step up in a career that started off at Falkirk before spells with Watford, Huddersfield Town, Southampton and Rangers.

His profile as a sporting director who creates a strong club culture and builds the infrastructure needed to support a manager is also seen as being a good fit for Howe who is hands-on with recruitment and football matters.’

Meanwhile, the Newcastle United Head of recruitment Steve Nickson and assistant head of recruitment Andy Howe (Eddie Howe’s nephew and they previously worked together at Bournemouth) are currently in interim charge of overseeing transfer deals after Mitchell’s exit.

Hopefully, if indeed Ross Wilson is offered the job and accepts, we see no lengthy gardening leave insisted on by Nottingham Forest before he can start work at Newcastle United.’