Newcastle United’s search for a sporting director is progressing slowly, to say the least, with Ross Wilson remaining the expected appointment, but with no clear end to the saga in sight, according to Chris Waugh’s Tuesday mailbag in The Athletic.
Wilson, who is currently Nottingham Forest’s chief football officer, attended St James’ Park on Sunday as part of the visiting delegation, but there is still no formal confirmation or timeline for his move.
“The expectation remains that Ross Wilson will take
over as sporting director, though a timescale remains elusive,” Waugh reported.
The Athletic checked whether Wilson had spoken with Newcastle officials during his visit and if his appointment was still on track. While insiders offered “noncommittal” responses.
“There was no pushback on the suggestion that his appointment needed to happen soon and that almost all of the Scot’s references have been positive,” Waugh wrote.
However, Forest are said to be “keen to retain Wilson’s services”, meaning the move is not yet a formality. Should Wilson accept the Newcastle job, he would have to serve a notice period — possibly spending time on gardening leave — or Newcastle might need to pay compensation to release him early.
Waugh concluded that Newcastle’s ownership, led by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), must make the hiring process more efficient and stop delaying decisions on this and all other things they plan to do in the future.
“Going forward, greater dynamism is required to make the hiring process swifter — it is crucial that PIF finds the correct people for each position, but they must do so in a far more streamlined manner,” Waugh wrote.
