Paul Mitchell's replacement - Newcastle shortlist Ross Wilson and Jason Ayto

Newcastle United have hired a recruitment specialist to search for Paul Mitchell's replacement, and two names have emerged as contenders for the job.

Mitchell will depart at the end of the month, with a shock announcement at the end of May confirming that our sporting director is stepping down after less than 12 months on Tyneside.

His time on Tyneside has not gone to plan, seeing him depart just as Darren Eales, the man who appointed him, looks set to step down as our CEO following a blood cancer diagnosis.

Former Real Madrid executive David Hopkinson has been tipped to replace Eales, but who could come in for the exiting Mitchell?

Two names set for Toon interviews?

According to Craig Hope, Nottingham Forest chief Ross Wilson is one of the names under consideration to become Newcastle United's new sporting director.

In his latest exclusive for The Mail, Hope reveals that Wilson has been shortlisted for the role, along with Arsenal's former assistant sporting director Jason Ayto, who worked under Edu before departing last month.

It's revealed that recruitment company Nolan Partners have been leading the club's search to replace Mitchell, with interviews lined up with a number of candidates.

It's believed Newcastle have asked Nolans to search for those with Premier League experience. On that note, there is no mention of former target Dougie Freedman in the piece, but he could be one to watch after the former Crystal Palace chief left London for Saudi Arabia just a few months ago.

An appointment before Mitchell's exit goes through later this month is considered 'unlikely', but the process to replace the former Monaco, Spurs and Southampton man is well underway.

Who is Ross Wilson and Jason Ayto?

Wilson, 41, has been at Forest for two years now, working as their sporting director and chief football officer.

The Scot has previously worked in similar roles at Rangers and Southampton and is highly respected in the game, Hope reports. That said, Wilson has come under criticism for his time in Glasgow, leaving the club in a poor position.

It remains to be seen how Nottingham Forest and Wilson himself will react to the interest, while Ayto could be a more straightforward appointment given he is currently out of work.

Ayto, 40, worked as a scout at Arsenal from 2014 to 2021, before a promotion to their chief scout role in 2021.

Two years on, he was promoted to an assistant sporting director role in 2023 before leaving the club just last month.