Latest Nottingham Forest news as Reds face losing key man to Premier League rivals

Chief football officer Ross Wilson is said to be on the verge of departing Nottingham Forest.

The 41-year-old has been on Newcastle United’s radar for some time amid their search for a new director of football. And it appears the Magpies are now close to finally snapping him up.

Wilson has agreed to take up the role in the north east, according to talkSPORT. The two clubs are said to be in ‘advanced talks’ over a compensation package.

Newcastle have been searching for a replacement for Paul Mitchell since the summer. Wilson quickly emerged as a potential target for the vacant role and interviews reportedly took place.

Former Arsenal sporting director Jason Ayto was said to also be in contention for the job. But former Rangers sporting director Wilson emerged as the north east side’s preferred candidate and there was a growing expectation a switch was on the cards.

Losing him is a blow for Forest. Wilson joined the club in April 2023, when they moved swiftly to replace axed sporting director Filippo Giraldi, and they have made remarkable progress on and off the pitch since then.

The Reds are in their fourth successive season of playing in the Premier League and are competing in Europe for the first time in three decades. They have also overseen some excellent transfer business in recent windows, with Wilson part of the club’s recruitment set-up.

Earlier this year, Wilson was linked with a return to former club Huddersfield Town. The Terriers were said to be keen for him to take on a senior role focused on driving their recruitment strategy.

The Scot had a spell at Huddersfield as head of football operations earlier in his career. Reports suggested he turned down an approach to head back to his old stomping ground.

Wilson has also previously held leadership roles at Southampton, Watford and Falkirk. He spent three-and-a-half years at Rangers prior to linking up with Forest.

The Reds made an off-field appointment of their own not so long ago. Ex-Arsenal sporting director Edu was appointed global head of football in a role the club said would involve overseeing all football-related functions, including recruitment, performance, squad strategy, and player development. The Brazilian’s remit is not focused purely on Forest, with his role encompassing owner Evangelos Marinakis’ other clubs, Olympiacos and Rio Ave.

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