sport news NEWCASTLE NOTEBOOK: The search for Dan Ashworth's replacement approaches its ... trends now
Newcastle’s players celebrated last Saturday’s 4-0 win over Tottenham in the company of The Wealdstone Raider, their unofficial minder for the night.
Not sure who he is? Real name Gordon Hill, he went viral on social media 11 years ago when, supporting non-League Wealdstone FC, he was involved in an exchange with a rival fan in which he repeatedly – and somewhat comedically - asked, ‘You want some?’. The video has been viewed 23 million times.
The Raider - 5ft 2ins tall - is also available for hire and, as part of goalkeeper Mark Gillespie’s stag do, he travelled to the North-East for a night on the Toon with a few of the team. They all chipped in to cover the cost.
The word is the Newcastle boys were thrilled to see the 58-year-old and he played along for pics and video with the Premier League stars. There were no reports of any trouble, and nor was there likely to be with the Raider in tow.
Newcastle celebrated last weekend's 4-0 win over Spurs with The Wealdstone Raider
Several stars chipped in as The Raider came to be part of goalkeeper Mark Gillespie's stag do
The club’s search for a new sporting director is approaching the phase of final interviews.
As Notebook revealed on March 8, Newcastle have hired the internationally renowned Odgers Berndtson to lead the recruitment drive.
We understand some candidates have now had as many as three interviews, and among those spoken to are ex-Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell, Benfica’s Rui Pedro Braz and former Roma chief Tiago Pinto.
Odgers, with industry experts Euan Frizzell and Simon Cummins, have led the search and interviews have been conducted with representatives from PIF, PCP Capital Partners and club executives. However, candidates are yet to meet with club chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan. That will be the final step and we are told that a three-man shortlist will now be formalised.
Once a decision is made, it should accelerate negotiations between Newcastle and Manchester United over the compensation package for Dan Ashworth, who remains on gardening leave ahead of his proposed move to Old Trafford.
Newcastle's search to replace Dan Ashworth as Sporting Director approaches its final stage
Lewis Miley is set to rest ahead of the summer to allow last month's back injury to heal
Mail Sport reported this week that Joe Willock will sit out the remainder of the season, and we understand he’ll now be joined by Lewis Miley.
Willock has lingering pain in his Achilles and the decision has been taken for him to rest in the hope of the issue clearing ahead of pre-season.
Miley, meanwhile, suffered a back injury training with England Under-20s last month. Like Willock, the midfielder could, in theory, play before the end of the campaign. The 17-year-old is said to feel good and has avoided serious injury.
