Newcastle United coach ‘given permission’ to leave after two seasons - a risky move?

Middlesbrough have approached Newcastle United for under-18 coach Graeme Carrick, according to reports.

A former FA stalwart, the 39-year-old joined the Magpies in August 2022, shortly after the Saudi-backed takeover. Carrick outlined his long-term goal to make the club’s academy “better” - with the previous regime neglecting youth development.

“During my job at the FA, I’d been lucky enough to work with a lot of coaches and people within the club,” he said following his appointment. “I have seen the positive direction the academy is heading, which is something I want to be a part of.

“I’m particularly looking forward to being out on the grass, working with players every day and I’ll give absolutely everything in trying to help them realise their potential both as footballers but also, as importantly, young people.

“The short-term aim is making sure to improve the programme for the players and helping them to progress every day and every week, individually and collectively. Longer term, it’s striving to deliver a high-quality programme whilst contributing, along with the rest of staff, towards making the Academy better.”

ChronicleLive now claim Carrick will join his brother, former Manchester United midfielder Michael, at Middlesbrough. The ex-England international has been in the Boro hot seat for almost two years and is planning to kick on after an underwhelming 2023-24.

That will leave Newcastle searching for a new under-18s coach and academy director Steve Harper will be tasked with finding a successor. The younger Carrick brother led the young Magpies to an eighth-placed finish in the U18 Premier League last season.