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Newcastle have been dealt a major blow in their search for a sporting director after top choice Dougie Freedman turned down the role.
It has left the club’s hierarchy – who had enlisted the help of recruitment experts Odgers Berndtson – without a new recruitment chief heading towards the summer window. They had hoped to appoint Freedman next month.
However, four weeks after Mail Sport revealed Newcastle had identified the Crystal Palace sporting director as their leading contender, Freedman has informed them he will be staying at Selhurst Park, where he is set for a pay rise.
Even as late as Wednesday of this week, Newcastle still believed the Scot was ready to accept their offer.
But word had started to emanate from South London of Freedman telling chairman Steve Parish he would remain, if negotiating a new contract.
Crystal Palace chief Dougie Freedman has turned down the role to become Newcastle’s sporting director
Eddie Howe’s side are keen to replace outgoing sporting director Dan Ashworth (pictured) who is currently on gardening leave
Sir Jim Ratcliffe (right) is keen for Ashworth to begin work at Man United as soon as is possible
Newcastle’s search for a replacement for Dan Ashworth began in late February and the likes of Paul Mitchell, Tiago Pinto and Rui Pedro Braz were spoken to. But it was Freedman and German Johannes Spors who made the final shortlist of two.
We understand some of the references for Spors – the global sporting director of the 777 Group – have suggested he may not be the best fit for Newcastle, and it is far from a given they will now revert to the 41-year-old.
In the meantime, head of recruitment Steve Nickson will continue to lead transfer dealings ahead of the summer window.
He had been considered for the revised sporting director role focusing on recruitment, with a new performance director also set to be appointed.
Nickson, meanwhile, is set to seal the free-transfer signings of Lloyd Kelly from Bournemouth and Tosin Adarabioyo from Fulham. Sources say Kelly is ‘done’ and will be confirmed in due course, while talks for Tosin were continuing in London this week with an agreement ‘very close’.
