Man United handed huge blow in hunt for influential figure in club’s academy as highly-rated Newcastle chief opts to stay on Tyneside

Manchester United have been dealt a blow in their attempts to appoint a new head of academy recruitment.

Daily Mail Sport can reveal that Newcastle’s Paul Midgley has turned down their offer and will be staying on Tyneside.

The 38-year-old held talks with Manchester United last month and, having worked with director of football Jason Wilcox at Manchester City, there was an expectation he would become the club’s new recruitment chief below first-team level.

But Midgley has told staff inside St James’ Park that he will remain as head of youth recruitment, meaning Manchester United must pick up their extensive search, which had involved 10 serious candidates before Midgley emerged as the frontrunner following a series of interviews. United have been looking to replace Luke Fedorenko, who is on gardening leave as he prepares to depart Carrington to take up a new job with an agency.

Midgley joined Newcastle from Manchester City three years ago, where he worked as UK scouting manager alongside Wilcox and Manchester United’s new academy chief Stephen Torpey.

News of him turning down United comes on the back of a difficult 48 hours for the club’s hierarchy, after head coach Ruben Amorim was sacked amid tensions with Wilcox.

Midgley’s decision to stay came after positive talks with Newcastle sporting director Ross Wilson, academy director Steve Harper and head of recruitment Steve Nickson. It is understood he did not think the time was right to leave a project of such potential, with Newcastle’s Saudi-led owners set to invest in academy infrastructure in 2026. Nickson was a key factor in Midgley joining the club and he wants to continue to work with and learn from a recruitment expert who he rates as one of the best operators in the game.