According to The Mail’s Craig Hope, Dan Ashworth’s move to become Newcastle United’s new sporting director could now be delayed until November.
The North-East reporter claims that Brighton are playing hardball over the compensation fee needed to bring him to Tyneside, meaning he could be left to see out a ‘nine-month notice period’ as negotiations over his release continue to stall.
Ashworth is currently on gardening leave after resigning from his position at the Amex Stadium back in February, yet it seems his move to St James’ Park looks set to be delayed until later this year if there’s no breakthrough in talks soon.
Hope states that negotiations with Brighton are continuing, but it’s said the Seagulls are ‘not making it easy for him to join Newcastle’, meaning a transfer committee of Eddie Howe, Amanda Staveley and Steve Nickson could be left to oversee our summer spending once again.
The Mail insist that the club are ‘relaxed’ about the situation, as Ashworth’s role at NUFC would stretch much wider than just player recruitment, however it remains a saga our new owners will want to get sorted ASAP.
The same report also reveals that a new CEO is set to be appointed before the season is out, while advisor Nick Hammond is still believed to be overseeing NUFC matters – albeit in an informal capacity following his stint at the club leading up to the January window.
