Eddie Howe did not need reminding.

“I’ve been going through them!” the Newcastle United head coach laughed after Ross Wilson became the club’s third sporting director in four years.

But the mood music feels different this time.

When Wilson’s predecessor, Paul Mitchell, arrived in the summer of 2024, Howe warned there was no point saying he was “happy staying at Newcastle if the dynamic isn’t right”.

The head coach was soon defending his recruitment record after Mitchell claimed the club’s processes had not been “fit for purpose”.

However, on Friday morning, Howe repeatedly said he was “really happy” following the arrival of Wilson and CEO David Hopkinson.

“We have got a strong group of people that are very ambitious and determined to take everything forward,” he said. “All I ever ask for is support and help.

“It’s a challenging job and you just need support and help to take the leaps forward that we need. Every other club are so progressive – and we need to be the same. We have got a good chance of delivering that now.”

Wilson will be responsible for helping to plot the club’s medium to long-term strategy as well as development and recruitment across the men’s, women’s and academy teams.

It will fall to the Scot, for example, to take the lead on player contracts, with Kieran Trippier and Fabian Schar among those who are entering the final months of their deals.

Wilson has already met department heads as well as players and staff – but it is a little early for transfer summits just yet.

“I think I’ll let him sit down first in his new surroundings before bombarding him with that,” Howe said.