Newcastle United’s incoming sporting director made a beeline for Eddie Howe and held quick meetings across the buidling
09:54, 15 Oct 2025Updated 09:56, 15 Oct 2025
Newcastle United’s new sporting director Ross Wilson (centre), head coach Eddie Howe and women’s director of football Grace Williams
Incoming Newcastle United sporting director Ross Wilson has hit the ground running at the club’s Benton HQ.
Chronicle Live understands that departmental meetings were quickly arranged with the ex-Nottingham Forest supremo meeting Eddie Howe and his coaching staff, the recruitment team, Academy staff, and Newcastle women’s director of football Grace Williams.
Wilson’s arrival already feels like a major contrast to the man he has replaced in former Monaco chief Paul Mitchell. Back in summer 2024, there were early tensions behind the scenes as Howe spoke about “boundaries” with an uncomfortable build-up to last season.
Mitchell also branded the club’s scouting network as “unfit for purpose” and there were various disagreements on targets and contract renewals, resulting in Alexander Isak’s eventual refusal to play or train.
However, the page has now been turned at Newcastle, and after Mitchell’s exit in May, United patiently waited for their man as they diligently researched his exit terms before discovering an exit clause which was triggered recently.
Part of Wilson’s early dialogue will no doubt point to January targets, refreshing the squad with some younger stars and the renewal of contracts for stars like Fabian Schar and Kieran Trippier.
Newcastle will also be discussing how much they have to spend in the next window although unlike previous windows there is not as much urgency on new signings after a £250m spending spree last summer.
Wilson hopes to dovetail perfectly with Howe and has been quoted in previous roles saying: “Nobody is more important than the manager”.
New Newcastle United sporting director Ross Wilson (R) watches training with performance director James Bunce (C) and head coach Eddie Howe (R)(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Image)
That will be be music to the ears of Howe who has always held the stance that the manager should have a big input in transfers when it comes to the final say on deals. But he will be pushing against an open door with Wilson with the former Rangers man having a reputation of tailoring teams for the head coach and opting against taking the limelight.
Wilson is expected to work away in the background and help enhance the teamwork ethos Howe has tried to put in place at Newcastle in the last four years. After a couple of years of disruption, with the stints of Dan Ashworth and Mitchell ending abruptly, Howe will be keen for things to settle down at Benton.
Wilson has also said in the past: “As sporting director, I see it as my responsibility to drive the constant development of the football structure.
Newcastle United’s new sporting director Ross Wilson(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Image)
“It is having a really, really clear identity and having a clear understanding of the vision and the plan – everyone pulling in the same direction knowing what the aim is.”
Howe quickly shot down a question on suggestions he preferred not to work with a sporting director last month when he said: “I don’t know where that has come from.
“We need that person, his expertise, it is a never-ending network”.
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