Report: Key Newcastle backroom figure to remain in current role after sporting director consideration
Newcastle recruitment lead Steve Nickson is to remain in his current role after being considered for the currently vacant sporting director role, reports suggest.
Newcastle have been on the hunt for a new sporting director since Dan Ashworth was placed into gardening leave to pursue a move to Manchester United in February.
Several candidates have been discussed to fill that position, but as it stands nobody has been confirmed.
Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman looked set for a move but recent reports now suggest that he is set to turn down a move to Tyneside in favour of signing a new contract at the Eagles.
Nickson will continue as the head of recruitment
Craig Hope of the Daily Mail has reported that Nickson was considered for a revised sporting director role but will continue in his current role.
It seems like the right choice to keep him in that position, he is the recruitment mastermind who brought in the likes of Alexander Isak, Kieran Tripper and Allan Saint-Maximin.
Former Newcastle manager Steve Bruce even admitted that Nickson tried to convince him to sign Moises Caicedo for just £4million before Brighton signed him.
Newcastle are also looking to appoint a performance director
Hope also reported that the Magpies are searching for a performance director. Premier League teams like Manchester United, Everton and Liverpool have heads of performance, and Newcastle are looking to follow suit.
The performance director would be responsible for overseeing the performance services provision across the club, which includes the medical, nutrition, sports science and psychology departments, ensuring players across all the teams are in peak physical condition and the methodology is aligned and integrated across the football club.
As it stands, no names have been reported as candidates for the role.
