Newcastle United may make a move for Brentford’s director of football, Phil Giles, as they seek a replacement for Dan Ashworth.
Newcastle United is attempting to sign Phil Giles as the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund seeks a replacement for Dan Ashworth, and journalist Ben Jacobs has told GIVEMESPORT that the Brentford director of football could fit the bill as the Magpies look to make St James’ Park a regular Champions League venue.
Although the Tyneside giants returned to Europe’s best club competition for the first time since the 2002/03 campaign earlier this season, after head coach Eddie Howe led his side to a top-four finish in the Premier League previous term, they were unable to advance from a group which also contained Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan.
Newcastle’s underwhelming results have left them struggling to compete for an immediate return to the Champions League, and the hierarchy was dealt another blow when sporting director Dan Ashworth informed them of his desire to join Manchester United, resulting in him being placed on gardening leave.
Boyhood Magpies Fan Giles Considered by Public Investment Fund
According to i News, Giles has emerged as a possible candidate to succeed Ashworth as Newcastle’s sporting director, and the Public Investment Fund is expected to make the final decision on who to target after allowing headhunters Nolan Partners to make the key call when they were looking for a new recruitment chief.
According to the report, the 48-year-old has caught the attention of the Tyneside club after doing an impressive job at Brentford, where he was appointed as co-director of football alongside Rasmus Ankersen in May 2015, and they are aware that he is a boyhood Magpies fan.
However, Newcastle is understood to have identified Paul Mitchell as their top candidate after evaluating numerous candidates, and they are eager to expedite Ashworth’s departure from St James’ Park because they do not want to have two sporting directors on their payroll.
The Magpies have notified Manchester United that they will have to pay a £21 million compensation package if they want to retain Ashworth’s services when his gardening leave expires in January 2026, although the two clubs have made headway in negotiations.
Respected reporter Jacobs recently told GIVEMESPORT that chief executive Darren Eales will play a critical role in putting Newcastle’s plans in place before the summer transfer window opens for business, but the Public Investment Fund has been working around the clock to find a new sporting director.
Tiago Pinto is looking for a new challenge after leaving Serie A heavyweights Roma, and he has publicly stated that he would be interested in succeeding Ashworth, since Sir Bobby Robson’s affiliation with Newcastle has kept him updated on the club’s progress for several years.
Ben Jacobs – Giles Capable of Building on Newcastle Success Under Ashworth
Although Jacobs understands that Newcastle has not identified a first-choice candidate to replace Ashworth, he has refused to rule out the possibility of the Public Investment Fund raiding Premier League rivals Brentford for Giles after learning that he and his family are Magpies fans.
The reputable journalist believes that the Bees’ recruitment chief would be an excellent choice because he would follow in Ashworth’s footsteps by joining from a club that operates on a tight budget and identifies emerging talent, which could benefit the Magpies as they strive to become Champions League regulars.
When asked if Mitchell is in pole position to become Newcastle’s sporting director, Jacobs told GIVEMESPORT:
“Newcastle are still searching for a new sporting director, and that is why there are a range of candidates.
“I think Phil Giles is the other name to keep an eye on. He is at Brentford, but he and his whole family are big Newcastle fans.
“When you look at the Newcastle recruitment, I think the clue is in Dan Ashworth. Newcastle went to Brighton, not only because their model is one of the best in the business, but it is a well-run club. Brighton know how to find young talent and, at times, work within financial constraints.”Newcastle are a massive club. If they get Champions League qualification season-on-season, things might change. But, right now, the Newcastle model requires ambition and the ability to unearth talent while working on much more of a shoestring compared to some of the other big clubs contending for European football and the Champions League.”
Mancini Eyed as Possible Howe Replacement
According to HITC, Saudi Arabia manager Roberto Mancini has surfaced as a prospective candidate to succeed Howe in Newcastle’s dugout, as the Public Investment Fund has begun looking into potential successors after becoming concerned over the club’s failure to qualify for Europe.
According to the source, the Italian tactician, who won the Premier League title, FA Cup, and Community Shield when managing Manchester City, already has strong ties to the Magpies’ leadership, as they are believed to have helped finalise his appointment in his present post.
According to reliable journalist Dean Jones, Mancini fits the bill to take over as Newcastle manager because of his Saudi Arabian connections, he has an impressive track record over the course of his managerial career, and statistics show that he has a higher points-per-game ratio than Howe in the English Premier League.
