Newcastle United confirm shock departure of former Man Utd man - club chief issues short statement
Newcastle United news: The Magpies have confirmed a major departure behind the scenes.
Newcastle United have confirmed the departure of Under-21s lead coach Adam Lawrence after four months in charge.
Lawrence joined Newcastle’s academy from Manchester United in September, but has now stepped down with the side sitting 24th out of 29 teams in the Premier League 2.
Lawrence was appointed as the replacement for Diarmuid O’Carroll, who left Newcastle to join Czech side Sparta Prague in a senior role last summer. Now the club are searching for another Under-21s manager with former Sunderland caretaker manager Robbie Stockdale set to take interim charge while the club conducts the process of identifying a replacement.
Newcastle United club statement confirms departure as academy chief reacts
A statement issued by Newcastle United confirmed Lawrence’s departure, it read: Adam Lawrence has chosen to step down from his role as Lead Coach of Newcastle United Under -21s.
“Lawrence took charge of the Magpies’ Under- 21 side in September 2025, joining Magpies' Academy from Manchester United, where he was Lead Coach for the club's Under-18s side.”
Newcastle United Academy Director, Steve Harper, said: “I’d like to thank Adam for his time with us leading the Under- 21 group.
“We wish him the best of luck as he pursues the next step in his coaching career.”
Adam Lawrence’s last game in charge ends in defeat
Lawrence’s resignation follows Friday’s 1-0 defeat to rivals Middlesbrough at Whitley Park.
After the match, Lawrence said: “I think overall it was a game that felt like a 0-0 game. It’s obviously disappointing to lose the game in that way.
“I don’t like talking about decisions and referees too much but I didn’t think it was a foul in the first place. Charlie has won the first one and then he’s won the second one and I just think it was a really soft free-kick - but at the same time, you’ve got to defend that situation.
“So it felt like a 0-0 game and to be honest our feeling around the game would be very similar if it finished nil-nil in terms of you feel the team has been competitive, there’s not been much in the game and tonight we created enough situations to score from but we were found lacking in the final third. It’s similar to where we have been lacking of late and it’s just a little bit of confidence, that bit of quality, decision-making in and around the final third has ultimately meant we have finished the game without scoring.”
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Newcastle United Academy
Lawrence stepping down as Newcastle Under-21s lead coach comes at a time when the club are turning to academy players to help bolster their squad amid an injury crisis.
Saturday’s FA Cup win over Bournemouth saw 18-year-old Sean Neave and 16-year-old Sam Alabi on the bench along with defender Alex Murphy. Although none of them got on the pitch, they have been in and around the first team to help bolster the numbers and support the matchday squad.
Leo Shahar is another player who have previously been called up to be among the substitutes while training with the first team.
Cathal Heffernan, Neave, Shahar and Alfie Harrison are among those who have been earmarked for potential loan exits this month. As reported by The Gazette, defender Heffernan missed out on Newcastle Under-21s 1-0 defeat at home to Middlesbrough on Friday due to a potential deal being lined up.
On Saturday, Newcastle confirmed the departure of striker Ben Parkinson to Scottish Premiership side Falkirk on a permanent transfer.
The deal was announced just hours before Lawrence’s decision to step down from his role and the series of changes and more potential departures spell another period of transition at Under-21s level.