Newcastle United supremo Dan Ashworth makes January pledge on recruitment methods for next window

Newcastle United’s sporting director, Dan Ashworth, emphasizes the club’s commitment to traditional scouting methods, stating that they will never solely rely on digital footage to sign players. Despite the prevalence of artificial intelligence and a team of data analysts at Newcastle, Ashworth believes in the importance of having scouts physically present across Europe to identify potential talents, especially in light of the Sandro Tonali incident.

While acknowledging the changes in player recruitment methods, Ashworth acknowledges the use of modern technology, such as Wyscout, to analyze specific clips sensibly. He highlights the shift in scouting approach at Newcastle but stresses the significance of having eyes and ears on the ground in Europe and domestically.

Ashworth notes the transformation in Newcastle’s training ground, highlighting advancements like a robotic line marker. He assures that the club aims to combine objective data with subjective opinions to ensure a balanced approach to recruitment, emphasizing the importance of industry knowledge and suitability.

In response to concerns about the upcoming transfer window, Ashworth dismisses the need for fans to compare Newcastle’s business with rival clubs, emphasizing that player suitability varies based on team dynamics and managerial preferences. He explains the club’s process of narrowing down potential recruits to a manageable number using both data and subjective opinions, subjecting them to further scrutiny as players progress through the system.

Ashworth, at 52, elaborates on his transfer philosophy, emphasizing the necessity of thorough background checks on players. He draws parallels with financial trading, highlighting the importance of industry knowledge in interpreting data. Given financial constraints, he stresses the need for extensive reference checking from various sources to gather information about a player’s character and capabilities, acknowledging the inherent uncertainties until the player becomes part of the organization.