Ross Wilson is poised to fill the vacant sporting director role at Newcastle as one of English football’s longest-running pursuits finally draws to a close.
Talks regarding Wilson’s departure from Nottingham Forest are advanced, with Newcastle hoping to secure a compensation deal that would permit Forest’s outgoing chief football officer poised to play an active part in the January transfer window. Recruitment aside, one of Wilson’s first tasks in the role will be attempting to persuade Sandro Tonali to sign a new, improved contract, extending the Italy midfielder’s existing deal beyond 2028.
Eddie Howe has advocated for Wilson’s appointment since Paul Mitchell stood down as Newcastle’s sporting director in June. It is understood the Scot is no longer performing an active role at Forest after agreeing to succeed Mitchell earlier this week.
Prising Ross – who was part of the visiting contingent as Newcastle beat Ange Postecoglou’s side at St James’ Park last Sunday – out of the City Ground has proved slow and complicated, particularly as Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis was extremely reluctant to lose the highly regarded 41-year-old. Wilson may have feared the prospect of Edu treading on his toes after Marinakis hired Arsenal’s former sporting director as Forest’s global head of football this summer.
After arriving in the East Midlands from Glasgow, where he had previously shone in an administrative role at Rangers, Wilson played a big part in shaping Forest’s recruitment strategy, while also supervising upgrades of the club’s academy, women’s team, medical department and general infrastructure. It did not go unnoticed that Wilson’s influence helped persuade key signings, including Elliot Anderson, Anthony Elanga, Nikola Milenkovic and Callum Hudson-Odoi to join Forest.
Elanga was sold to Newcastle for £55m this summer, the deal representing a healthy profit on a player who cost Forest a relatively modest £13.5m when he joined from Manchester United in July 2023. Newcastle have traditionally been poor sellers and it is hoped Wilson will improve this aspect of their recruitment operation.
He will become Newcastle’s third sporting director in two years and there is confidence at the club that he will remain in situ for considerably longer than his two immediate predecessors. While Mitchell never really bonded with Howe, Dan Ashworth’s head was turned by an offer from Manchester United.
Wilson is expected to be heavily involved with the women’s team and plans for a new training ground. The idea is that he will enjoy a collaborative relationship with Howe that involves Newcastle’s manager having a final say on all signings and outgoings. Howe’s nephew, Andy Howe, is expected to continue to in a senior recruitment role.
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Howe’s enthusiasm regarding Wilson’s appointment is shared by both Newcastle’s Saudi Arabian owners and their recently appointed Canadian chief executive, David Hopkinson.
