Alan Hutton says pending Ashworth appointment is ‘massive’

Newcastle United signed a lot of players in the January transfer window following their takeover by Public Investment Fund, PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media, but they’ve also made changes to the backroom staff.

The Magpies are closing in on appointing Dan Ashworth as their new Director of Football. The 50-year-old is highly-regarded and worked as the FA’s Director of Elite Development before returning to club football.

Ashworth has resigned from his DoF post at Brighton, seemingly to join Newcastle, and Alan Hutton says it’s ‘massive’ for the Magpies. He told Football Insider: “It’s huge. Especially when you think that he was getting touted about.

“A lot of people (were) thinking: ‘Why are you not going to the likes of Manchester United? They are crying out for somebody like him.’ For Newcastle to get him on board, especially with how you see them moving forward, they need somebody with that experience at the head of it.

Since their promotion back to the Premier League in 2017, Newcastle have finished in the bottom-half of the table in their last four seasons. The Magpies haven’t amassed more than 45 points from 38 games since 2014 and have been relegated twice since 2009.

Mike Ashley is no longer Newcastle’s owner, but there still needs to be the right people in decision-making roles to ensure the Magpies’ future remains bright. That’s where Ashworth should come in handy with his top-flight experience and international pedigree.

Hutton added: “Newcastle are a little bit all over the place when it comes to that. I know they’ve had the takeover, but you can’t just go and fling your money here, there and everywhere and expect it to work out. You need top people in the big jobs.

“For him coming in, I think it’s