Former Newcastle United coach sacked less than a year after St James’ Park exit

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Newcastle United’s Premier League rivals Leicester City have announced a major change.

The Foxes are currently one of the favourites to be relegated from the Premier League, sitting 19th in the table after 26 games.

After losing 4-0 to Brentford on Friday night, Leicester City are five points adrift in the relegation zone.

Leicester have already acted this season to try and stay up. Steve Cooper was sacked and replaced by Ruud van Nistelrooy last year. That has not had the desired impact, as Newcastle United witnessed back in December. Van Nistelrooy’s side travelled to St James’ Park, as Newcastle United beat Leicester 4-0.

The situation at the King Power Stadium has since gotten worse, and there have now been further changes behind the scenes.

Ben Dawson leaves Leicester City

Leicester City have announced on Monday that two coaches have left the club – Ben Dawson and Danny Alcock.

The first name will be familiar to Toon fans, as Ben Dawson was part of the Newcastle United academy before being poached by Steve Cooper last summer.

In their official statement, Leicester City said: “We place on record our thanks to Ben and Danny for their contribution and service and wish them both well in the next steps of their respective careers.”

Dawson had been the Magpies’ first-team development coach, but left that role in July 2024 to join the Foxes.

The 44-year-old also had various other roles on Tyneside, working as a professional development coach for the academy. He was also the Newcastle Under-21s’ lead coach, as well as the lead coach for the entire academy.

Despite being appointed by Cooper, Dawson had initially stayed on at Leicester City following Van Nistelrooy’s arrival. However, he is no longer part of Leicester’s backroom staff.

Who replaced Ben Dawson at Newcastle United

Following Dawson’s Newcastle United exit last summer, the Magpies drafted in Diarmuid O’Carroll to become the club’s new Under-21s lead coach.

He left his role as assistant manager at St Mirren to take this job at Newcastle United, working with the club’s talented crop of youngsters.

O’Carroll has a very important job, as he is tasked with moulding the exciting young players who have the potential to become first-team stars at St James’ Park.

There is a real focus on Newcastle United producing more talent from their academy, as sporting director Paul Mitchell sets about ensuring that the club do not need to rely on spending huge money on readymade superstars.