'If that is the case...' - Journalist worried after rumour he's 'heard' at Newcastle

Journalist Tom Barclay has highlighted a major issue surrounding Dan Ashworth becoming the club’s new director of football amid his gardening leave situation with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Ashworth was the director of football at Brighton until February when he quit to take on the challenge at Newcastle, but there have been issues surrounding his official confirmation at St James’ Park due to him serving his gardening leave, which could delay the appointment until November, according to recent reports.

Newcastle currently find themselves all but safe in the Premier League after an impressive spell of form since Christmas, and the club have huge plans in the summer to invest in new talent with their newfound wealth in the hope to push on and progress as a club.

With the news that Ashworth may have to wait until November to be introduced at Tyneside, Barclay told GiveMeSport what the current situation is.

He said: “I’d heard whispers about his gardening leave situation being nine months a while ago, but I couldn’t get it stood up. If that is the case, then that would lead to November.”

TIF Thoughts on Tom Barclay’s comments…

Newcastle have been linked with a number of players ahead of the summer transfer window, and they presumably would have wanted Dan Ashworth to oversee the spending, but due to his gardening leave, it will leave Eddie Howe, chief scouts and the owners in charge.

The Magpies turned their season around after some good investment in the January transfer window, with the club having lost just three times in their last 12 Premier League games.

Although it is not an ideal situation not to have Ashworth overseeing the business in the summer, Howe seemed to deal with proceedings well in January, so he will be