Newcastle United have announced that Under-21s head coach Diarmuid O’Carroll has joined Czech First League side Sparta Prague as first-team coach.
The Irishman leaves the club after just nine months on Tyneside to join the Czech Republic side that Newcastle United signed Martin Dubravka from in 2018.
Diarmuid O’Carroll’s exit comes as a surprise to many, and one that may have a consequence on Newcastle’s academy. The 38-year-old was doing a brilliant job managing the young Magpies, helping them reach the play-offs and getting the best out of players like Garang Kuol and Alfie Harrison.
O’Carroll is not the only key member of staff leaving the club this summer. Paul Mitchell announced his shock Newcastle exit in May, bringing his time on Tyneside to an end after less than a year.
PIF now have another position that needs to be filled this summer, and one that will need to be filled sooner rather than later.
With O’Carroll’s departure confirmed by the club, Newcastle fans have shared their thoughts to the news on social media.
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Newcastle United fans understand Diarmuid O’Carroll’s surprise departure
O’Carroll becomes the third youth head coach to leave the club over the last 12 months, with Ben Dawson and Graeme Carrick also departing for roles at Leicester City and Middlesbrough, respectively.
Newcastle could look to Jack Ross as his replacement for the time being, with the Scot having acted as caretaker manager last season while the club looked for Dawson’s replacement.
While his departure is an inconvenience for Newcastle, fans seem to understand the decision to let him go to Sparta Prague as it is a step up in his career.
“Wow, fair play. Good luck to him.” said one fan on social media platform X, while another added: “Shame, he was a top coach but having a pathway will also be attractive for new coaches to join.”
This fan highlighted Dawson’s exit, saying: “3rd season in a row we will be looking for another Under 21’s coach.”
“Christ, only been here 5 mins.” said this disappointed Newcastle fan.
Another fan added: “Doesn’t that complement the development of coaches in the youth system if they all leave to be first team coaches somewhere else?”
Finally, this Newcastle fan said: “Big step up, all the best!”
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What Newcastle United said about Diarmuid O’Carroll’s exit
The process to recruit a successor to O’Carroll is now underway, though there is no timeframe for when a new Under-21s head coach will be appointed.
That now means Newcastle are looking for a new sporting director, Under-21s head coach and CEO, given that Darren Eales is also leaving imminently.
Newcastle think Ross Wilson is the right successor to Mitchell, and several names have been mentioned to replace Eales. However, there are no clear candidates to replace O’Carroll.
Despite his surprise exit, Newcastle academy director Steve Harper is adamant that he has left with the club’s best wishes.
“I’d like to thank Diarmuid for his time with us leading the under-21 group,” Harper said in a statement on Newcastle’s website.
“The opportunity to work in Europe is an exciting one for him and we wish him the best of luck as his coaching career continues.
“He is the third professional development phase coach to be headhunted from our Academy for a first team senior football role in the last 12 months, which demonstrates that our Academy development pathway works not just for players but for staff too.
“The process of recruiting a new Under-21s lead coach is underway.”
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