Paul Mitchell set to shake up academy after two Newcastle United coaches quit

Newcastle United are looking for another youth coach as under-21s manager Ben Dawson is set to join Leicester City, according to reports.

Earlier this summer, under-18s boss Graeme Carrick left to reunite with his brother, Michael, at Middlesbrough. A fresh vacancy has now emerged, with The Chronicle reporting that Dawson - who joined the Magpies in 2014 - will leave to work under Steve Cooper at the Foxes.

Dawson has held several positions throughout his 10-year career on Tyneside, most recently coaching the under-21s team since Elliot Dickman’ departure in January 2023. The 43-year-old briefly handled the first-team ranks on Newcastle’s pre-season tour in China following Rafa Benitez’s exit.

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Steve Bruce had not yet been appointed and Dawson took charge for clashes against Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United in the Premier League Asia Cup. The report claims he is seeking a fresh challenge working with senior players after years in the youth setup.

The surprise departure leaves Newcastle needing two academy coaches ahead of the new season. Paul Mitchell, as sporting director, will be heavily involved in both appointments given his history in youth development.

Mitchell highlighted his remit to find the “best in class” after bringing James Bunce to Tyneside as performance analyst. He said: “It’s my job to find the best in class. If we are going to move consistently to the next level and we are going to perform at that level consistently as well, we need to give our best players accessibility to the coach and vice versa. 

“The way we do that is keeping them fit, keeping them healthy, keeping them robust, keeping them resilient, so our coach has a better chance of winning on matchday. That’s why we hired someone like James, who is an elite specialist in the world of performance.”