What does Mitchell’s departure mean for Newcastle’s transfer business this summer – and what will the club look to do next?
WAS TUESDAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT A SURPRISE?
Externally, yes. There had been rumours that a change at boardroom level was imminent, but that was expected to relate to Eales’ exit, which had already been announced.
Internally, however, senior club sources have been at pains to stress that this has not come from nowhere. One of the key drivers behind Mitchell’s decision to join Newcastle was his close relationship with Eales, with the pair having worked closely together at Tottenham. When Eales announced his future plans, Mitchell indicated internally that he would also consider his own future.
The 43-year-old is understood to have indicated a desire to leave at some stage last week, and while a senior delegation involving board member Jamie Reuben held talks to see if a compromise position was possible, it became clear that a mutual parting of the ways was going to be best for all concerned.
WILL NEWCASTLE’S TRANSFER PLANS BE AFFECTED?
The club are adamant that they won’t. While Mitchell’s position gave him a major say over transfer matters, the signing of Will Osula from Sheffield United was the only incoming deal conducted during his time with Newcastle.
The club’s preparations for the forthcoming summer transfer windows – there will be a first window next month to tie in with the Club World Cup then the more traditional one that opens on June 16 – are well under way, with priority positions having been identified and leading targets having been extensively scouted and assessed.
The fact that Mitchell is remaining in his post until the end of June should help smooth the transition to a new system, although club officials insist there will actually be very little change when he leaves anyway, with Newcastle’s transfer business always having involved a collegiate approach in which a number of different people and departments have an input.
Eddie Howe and chief scout Steve Nickson have always played a prominent role in recruitment, and they have been heavily involved in the planning for the summer transfer window to this point. Howe’s nephew, Andy, is the assistant head of first-team recruitment, and it is anticipated that he will play a more influential role in the next few months.
SO, HAS HOWE’S POSITION BEEN STRENGTHENED?
To a degree, yes. Although, while the narrative in the immediate aftermath of Mitchell’s appointment was of a clash between sporting director and head coach, the initial issues had largely been resolved.
Mitchell and Howe worked effectively together during the January window, and the pair had established a functioning working relationship with clearly-defined spheres of influence that meant they did not really impact what the other was doing. In the wake of Sunday’s final game of the season against Everton, they shared a warm embrace on the pitch at St James’ Park.
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Nevertheless, as someone who likes to have close control of all aspects of the playing side of the football club, Howe’s position has undoubtedly been further strengthened by Mitchell’s departure.
In the past, when Howe has spoken about recruitment meetings with the Newcastle hierarchy, he has used the words “we” and “us”. On Sunday, when he was asked about the presence of Yasir al-Rumayyan at St James’, he said “I am going to meet the chairman”. It is a small point, but in hindsight, it was probably telling.
That said, the head coach will not be given completely free rein over what happens with transfer matters this summer. Nickson is an extremely-experienced operator with his own ideas about what Newcastle need. And, ultimately, whatever is decided will have to be signed off by PIF, who continue to hold an effective veto over all major decisions.
WILL MITCHELL BE REPLACED?
Yes, although the initial priority is to complete the search for a new chief executive, which has been ongoing for a number of months now. Newcastle are understood to be confident of having Eales’ long-term successor in place soon, which will fill one of the voids that currently exists.
The new chief executive will have a major say when it comes to replacing Mitchell. Newcastle could attempt to recruit a like-for-like replacement, although their last two choices for the position – Mitchell and Dan Ashworth – have hardly been huge successes.
Another option would be to tweak the executive structure slightly and appoint a technical director rather than a sporting director. This might seem like semantics, but it would actually hint at a reorganising of power within the Newcastle hierarchy.
A technical director’s prime responsibility would be largely operational, overseeing the day-to-day implementation and operation of the various elements of Newcastle’s business, both on and off the pitch. They would have an input into long-term strategic decision-making, but would not necessarily have the major say over recruitment that Ashworth and Mitchell have wielded.
Such a model potentially feels like a better fit for the way in which Howe likes to operate, further strengthening the position of the current head coach.
