Newcastle dealt blow as Wrexham snatches head of recruitment

Newcastle United has undergone significant changes behind the scenes in recent months, and another experienced member of the club’s recruitment department is now heading for the exit.

Now, the Magpies’ off-field restructuring will need to continue without another senior figure, as he has agreed to leave St. James’ Park for a new opportunity elsewhere in English football.

According to The Athletic, Wrexham has agreed a deal to appoint Newcastle head of recruitment Steve Nickson as its first-ever sporting director, with the 61-year-old due to begin his new role on Sept. 2 after the summer transfer window closes.

The report states that Nickson is already serving his notice period before joining the Championship club, with manager Phil Parkinson having approved the appointment.

Nickson has spent 15 years at Newcastle, initially joining as head of youth recruitment before taking over as head of recruitment in 2017, overseeing the club’s scouting network during one of the most transformative periods in its modern history.

During his time on Tyneside, Newcastle signed players including Sven Botman, Joelinton and Ayoze Perez, while Nickson also played a key role in recruiting highly rated young talents such as Antonio Cordero and Vakhtang Salia.

It had been reported that Nickson was expected to leave Newcastle if the proper offer arrived, with West Ham United and Birmingham City among the clubs linked last June, but it looks like it took Wrexham to present him with an offer to convince him to leave Tyneside.

Nickson’s departure represents another significant change within Newcastle’s football operations, while Wrexham gains one of English football’s most experienced recruitment figures as it pursues promotion to the Premier League one year after being promoted to the Championship.