The highly respected recruitment chief was expected to make the move to Nottingham Forest earlier in the year.
Paul Mitchell knows what it’s like to work under a rather ‘involved’ owner.
According to the Evening Standard, the former Tottenham Hotspur Head of Recruitment, who helped turn Southampton into Premier League overachievers alongside Mauricio Pochettino, handed in his resignation on the eve of the new season after chairman Daniel Levy failed to conclude a deal for Michy Batshuayi despite Mitchell’s avid interest.
In the end, the Belgian signed for rivals Chelsea while Tottenham were left with the much-maligned Vincent Janssen.
Yet, according to The Sun in January, Mitchell was offered a route back in professional football with Nottingham Forest’s prospective new owner John Jay Moores identifying him as a key figure in a behind-the-scenes overhaul at the City Ground.
However, Forest fans won’t need reminding that the takeover, and the chance of a fresh start, fell through soon after, leaving the club at the mercy of derided owner Fawaz Al-Hasawi.
Consequently, reports linking Mitchell with a move to the East Midlands have dried up, The Telegraph reporting that he is now far more likely to become Rangers much-publicised Director of Football.
And although the Ibrox club are a far from stable outfit, you get the feeling that Mitchell may have dodged a bullet, especially considering his previous differences with Levy.
Al-Hasawi, after all, has a reputation of being rather difficult to work with. The Independent claimed that Stuart Pearce was furious with the owner’s decision to sell Jamaal Lascelles and Karl Darlow reportedly against the manager’s advice.
Ask any Forest fan and they’ll draw comparisons with Oliver Burke’s sudden exit in the summer, leaving the club with little time to find a replacement.
If Mitchell struggled to work with Levy, Al-Hasawi would be a different proposition still.
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