Ross appointed Newcastle head of football strategy

Jack Ross has been with Newcastle United since 2023

Former Dundee United, Hibernian, St Mirren and Sunderland team boss Jack Ross has been appointed as Newcastle United's head of football strategy.

The Premier League club say the 49-year-old Scot will be "reporting into a new sporting director".

Jack joined Newcastle in 2023 as their academy's head of coach development before becoming head of strategic technical football partnerships.

Having provided "mentorship and strategic support to key staff", he will now oversee "the club's player loan and emerging talent strategy", and "build strategic relationships with other clubs" in the UK and overseas.

Jack told Newcastle's website: "This is an exciting opportunity to help the club build on the outstanding progress and successes it has achieved on and off the pitch in recent seasons."

Newcastle say he will "help to develop a consistent sporting philosophy across the club" and support "communication, collaboration and the implementation of best practice across men's, women's and academy football", all aimed at "enabling talent depth and retention".

Jack, a full-back with Clyde, Hartlepool United, Falkirk, St Mirren, Hamilton Academical and Dunfermline Athletic, first went into management with Alloa Athletic in 2015.

His last such role ended in August 2022, when he was sacked as Dundee United head coach after only seven games in charge.

Meanwhile, former Manchester United and Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher has been appointed as the lead coach for the Premier League club's under-18s side.

Academy graduate Fletcher made more than 300 appearances for United and the 41-year-old has worked in various roles since returning to the club in 2021.