According to NUFC.com, ex-Mag Shola Ameobi has landed a brand new role at Newcastle United, with him set to become the club’s ‘loan coordinator’.
If true, Ameobi will liaise with potential loan clubs and arrange suitable moves for several of our U-23 talents, weighing up the options available and monitoring both their progress and playing time during their temporary stints away from St James’ Park.
This newly-created position has been mentioned on several occasions over the past few months, with recent loan moves for the likes of Elias Sorensen (Blackpool) and Jamie Sterry (Crewe) being a real waste – seeing both recalled by the club after a total lack of game time.
Here’s what NUFC.com have had to say, claiming Shola is all set to oversee loan deals at Academy level next season:
“There may be a deafening silence where first team matters are concerned, but the off-field restructuring of Newcastle’s Academy continues.
“A newly-created post of loans co-ordinator meanwhile is filled by Shola Ameobi, whose remit is to achieve meaningful placements for Academy products – something that went badly awry in the second half of last season.”
The club has received plenty stick for not involving ex players in the football side of things, so this could be a positive step.
That said, some won’t be happy that the role could be handed to a man who’s appeared to be a bit of an Ashley-sympathiser during his odd appearance on Sky Sports.
This could be one of several changes at Academy level this summer, however.
Ex-Leeds boss Neil Redfearn looks all set to come in and take over the U-23’s, with Ben Dawson set to take up a ‘director of football-type role’.
Mark Atkinson is also set to swap the Stadium of Light for St James’ Park and take over the U-16s’s, while Neil Winskill is also in line to replace Dave Watson as our new U-18 coach.
Plenty changes look set to take place, but time will tell if Shola Ameobi is in fact set to become our new ‘loan coordinator’.
“Shola Lands New And Unfamiliar Role”
Are we signing him as a striker?
Brrrian(Quote)