Newcastle United have brought club legend (kind of) Paul Dummett back to the club in a staffing role as we look to revamp our outgoing loan system for academy talent moving forward.
Dummett has been appointed as the new loans manager, following the restructuring at the end of last season that saw Shola Ameobi moved into a more commercial ambassadorial role (thank goodness).
Dummett's appointment is part of a wider strategy this season to improve the outgoing loans system and provide academy talents with experience that gives them a genuine chance of breaking into the first team upon their return.
Newcastle United's poor loan record
Of those who do break into the first team through the academy, a lot of them have gone on to be rather successful. Think Paul Gascoigne, Elliot Anderson and Lewis Miley to name a few.
But as far as those who are sent out on loan are concerned, it is more resemblant of a banishment to Alcatraz than a chance to develop into a senior prospect.
There have been countless cases over the past decade of players who seemingly had promise dissappearing into the footballing foliage after random loans that simply didn't work out. Probably the most prominent of those in recent times has been Australian forward Garang Kuol, who was shipped off to Hearts & Volendam in back to back season before eventually being moved on to Sparta Prague after failing to fulfil his potential.
In the modern game, you simply can't, and quote frankly shouldn't, have those sort of failures as the time and resources spent on youth talent is invaluable and the rewards for producing top talent is immense.
The new setup
The Magpies have clearly taken note of those struggles and have finally decided that now is the time to do something about it, with a new era of the project coming to fruition and all.
The loans department has now been renamed internally to 'talent management' with Peter Ramage, who worked alongside Shola Ameobi, promoted to head up the new look department.
The scope of the division will look to both identify the right clubs for young talent to thrive on loan and also provide a support system for them whilst they are away.
Why a change is imperative
As mentioned, Newcastle have had some academy successes over the years, but when you look at clubs like Manchester City or Chelsea in the present day, it beomces clear why the mentality must shift on Tyneside.
Not only because it saves the club money and reduces the onus on going out and spending, but also because it allows the club to accumulate a much greater pot of funds to then spend on the first team by flogging some of that talent that isn't quite able to break into the first team.
The club have been investing in the academy ever since the takeover in 2021, a financial boost which is now beginning to see the benefit, especially with age groups from U10-U16 who now regularly compete, and better, elite academies in the biggest youth competitions.
But even if the older age groups, we now have a group of players who aren't quite ready for regular first team oppotunities, but are well past the point where they should be getting senior experience.
The players who could benefit
Newcastle fans will likely be well aware of most of the names in need of being sent out on loan before the window slams shut.
Most prominently the likes of Sean Neave, who has looked lively every time he has played for the first team, and players such as Rory Finneran, who has already made his senior international debut with Ireland.
There are plenty of others too though, Seung-Soo, Leo Shahar, Mason Miley, Trevan Sanusi, even players like Sam Alabi coming back from injury may well benefit from a loan move, and all of which now may receive a genuinely useful one with this new improved focus.
As you can see, there is bags upon bags of talent just waiting to be utilised by the Magpies, and the new structure suggests they are hell bent on doing exactly that.
Paul Dummett has a big job on his hands, especially given it is his first ever executive role, but if anyone understands the club well enough to execute the position properly, it is the Welshman.
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