Newcastle United start work on recruiting director of football ahead of takeover ratification

Newcastle United’s prospective new owners have already started work on the appointment of a director of football.
DIC negotiator Amanda Staveley takes her seat before Liverpool took on Chelsea in their UEFA Champions League semi-final football match against Liverpool at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England, April 22, 2008. The game finished 1-1. AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)DIC negotiator Amanda Staveley takes her seat before Liverpool took on Chelsea in their UEFA Champions League semi-final football match against Liverpool at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England, April 22, 2008. The game finished 1-1. AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
DIC negotiator Amanda Staveley takes her seat before Liverpool took on Chelsea in their UEFA Champions League semi-final football match against Liverpool at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England, April 22, 2008. The game finished 1-1. AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

While PCP Capital Partners’ joint bid with Reuben Brothers and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, who will take over 80% of United, is yet to get the green light from the Premier League, representatives of the group have already begun working on getting a recruitment specialist through the door, to supplement Steve Bruce, who for the time being will be kept in his role as head coach.

“They want to put a director of football in place – and that will be one of their first appointments,” said journalist Duncan Castles on the Transfer Window podcast.

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“They are looking for strong external candidates. And their pitch to those external candidates is 'we don't have a coach yet, we haven't decided on players - you tell us how you would run this project from a recruitment point of view?'.

“That is part of the process – they want to see who comes up with the best strategy.”

As things stand the United takeover, which will net current owner Mike Ashley £300million, is at the mercy of the Premier League. They continue to conduct their owners and directors tests and are expected to come to a decision on the suitability of the Saudi-financed bid this week. They are expected to give the deal the green light, which would then mean there is just a transfer of funds between United and a landscape without Ashley’s age of austerity.

Castles has offered some insight into what he expects to be the PIF approach.

“They want to do this by the rules,” he said

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“They do not want to ignore them and go the Abu Dhabi and Manchester City route.

“They recognise a lot of takeovers have seen owners ripped off badly by agents.

“They have people working on recruitment strategies and rebuilds.”

While Bruce is expected to remain at United under new ownership, he is likely to only remain to see out the 2019/20 Premier League season.

Mauricio Pochettino has been linked with the post and is thought to be interested.