Newcastle Hires Mitchell as Sporting Director to Replace Ashworth

Newcastle have announced the appointment of Paul Mitchell as Dan Ashworth's successor as sporting director. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
Newcastle have announced the appointment of Paul Mitchell as Dan Ashworth's successor as sporting director. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
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Newcastle Hires Mitchell as Sporting Director to Replace Ashworth

Newcastle have announced the appointment of Paul Mitchell as Dan Ashworth's successor as sporting director. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
Newcastle have announced the appointment of Paul Mitchell as Dan Ashworth's successor as sporting director. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

Newcastle announced the appointment of Paul Mitchell as its sporting director on Thursday, replacing Dan Ashworth following his switch to Manchester United.

Mitchell has had previous roles in scouting and club development at Southampton, Tottenham, Leipzig and Monaco.

Ashworth's departure to United was finally confirmed on Monday after months of negotiations, The AP reported.

“I’ve seen the recent growth and ambition of the club," Mitchell said of Newcastle. “This, plus the amazing fanbase, made the decision to join an easy one.”

The 42-year-old Mitchell played professionally with lower-league English clubs including Wigan and MK Dons before his career was cut short by injury and he moved into off-field roles.

He was chief scout at MK Dons before moving to Southampton in 2012. He followed Mauricio Pochettino to Tottenham in 2014, becoming Spurs' head of recruitment and signing players like Dele Alli and Son Heung-min.

He later joined the Red Bull group, spending time with Leipzig and New York before being appointed as Monaco's sporting director in 2020.



Premier League Rejects City Request to Delay Next Season’s Games after Club World Cup

Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Manchester City - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - September 28, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Manchester City - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - September 28, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts. (Reuters)
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Premier League Rejects City Request to Delay Next Season’s Games after Club World Cup

Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Manchester City - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - September 28, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Manchester City - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - September 28, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts. (Reuters)

The Premier League has rejected Manchester City's request to postpone the first two games of the 2025-26 season to help the players recover after their FIFA Club World Cup campaign in the US, the club's manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday.

City and Chelsea are the two English clubs who have qualified for the expanded month-long Club World Cup set to start on June 15. The Premier League's season will begin in August.

An increasingly packed football calendar has been a concern among a growing number of players and managers. A report by global players' union FIFPRO said some players get only 12% of the year to rest.

The Premier League did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.

City midfielder Rodri said in September that players could be close to strike action over the time they are required to play. A knee ligament injury has since put him out for the season.

"I don’t know if we will play more games than the treble year (2022-23)... maybe we'll play less games," Guardiola told reporters.

"The Premier League has not allowed us to postpone the first two games for our recovery. Thank you so much. They don't postpone these games so that will be the moment of, oh, what do we have to do?"

He said the Club World Cup will make it even more difficult for clubs to manage player workload.