Wrexham to appoint Newcastle's Nickson as sporting director

What the report says

BBC Sport Football reports that Wrexham are close to naming Steve Nickson, Newcastle United’s head of recruitment, as the club’s new sporting director. Nickson is expected to leave Newcastle this summer and take up the newly created role with the Welsh club in September, although Newcastle have not yet formally announced his departure.

According to the BBC, Nickson spent 15 years at Newcastle and was involved in several major signings, including Joelinton from Hoffenheim in 2019, Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon in 2022 and Miguel Almiron, who at the time became Newcastle’s record transfer. The report says he had also drawn interest from West Ham United, who were recently relegated. At Wrexham, his remit has not been fully set out, but he is expected to contribute to transfers and broader football operations while working with manager Phil Parkinson.

The appointment would mark another step in Wrexham’s rapid rise under Parkinson. The club earned three consecutive promotions between 2023 and 2025 and finished seventh in the Championship last season, missing the play-offs on the final day. BBC Sport says Wrexham view Nickson’s arrival as a significant move as they try to strengthen their push toward the Premier League.

Wrexham have not yet made a summer signing, and Parkinson has said the squad needs additions for the demands of the Championship. The team are currently in the United States for pre-season matches against Leeds United, Liverpool and Sunderland, before opening their competitive schedule against Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup and beginning the league campaign away to Cardiff City.