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.



Soccer-AC Milan Owner Denies Report it is Looking for New Investors

AC Milan's French forward #09 Olivier Giroud (C) makes a heart sign as he celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Italian Serie A football match between AC Milan and Salernitana at San Siro Stadium, in Milan on May 25, 2024. as the last match by coach. (AFP)
AC Milan's French forward #09 Olivier Giroud (C) makes a heart sign as he celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Italian Serie A football match between AC Milan and Salernitana at San Siro Stadium, in Milan on May 25, 2024. as the last match by coach. (AFP)
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Soccer-AC Milan Owner Denies Report it is Looking for New Investors

AC Milan's French forward #09 Olivier Giroud (C) makes a heart sign as he celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Italian Serie A football match between AC Milan and Salernitana at San Siro Stadium, in Milan on May 25, 2024. as the last match by coach. (AFP)
AC Milan's French forward #09 Olivier Giroud (C) makes a heart sign as he celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Italian Serie A football match between AC Milan and Salernitana at San Siro Stadium, in Milan on May 25, 2024. as the last match by coach. (AFP)

US investment firm RedBird Capital on Friday denied a report by Italian newspaper La Repubblica saying it was looking to sell a stake in AC Milan, the Italian soccer club it has owned since 2022.

"The reporting by La Repubblica about selling a stake in AC Milan is a complete fabrication. It is wholly untrue," a spokesperson for RedBird said.

RedBird took over the club from US fund Elliott in a 1.2 billion euro ($1.32 billion) buyout, according to Reuters.

La Repubblica said it was partly financed through a vendor loan from Elliott worth 560 million euros due next year, plus RedBird's own investment of 681 million euros.

RedBird was now looking to "rebalance its portfolio" by selling "up to 150 million euros of the initial invested capital of 681 million" at base cost, the newspaper added.

It cited a document for potential new investors prepared by US investment firm Washington Harbour on behalf of RedBird, adding that the file "has been circulating in international financial circles since May".

In an earlier statement which stopped short of a full denial, a RedBird spokesperson had told Reuters that Gerry Cardinale, the founder and managing partner of the fund, "does not know Washington Harbour and the document cited by the newspaper is not attributable to him".

Washington Harbour did not reply to a Reuters request seeking comment over the press report.