Newcastle United have made a short-term move to try to save their January transfer window after a difficult search for a director of football.
The Magpies are yet to fill the main football executive position but have appointed former Celtic supremo Nicky Hammond.
The former Swindon Town and Reading goalie has been drafted in Amanda Staveley and the Newcastle board to support the owners in January recruitment.
Club sources have told Chronicle Live, staff learned of Hammond's arrival last Saturday with Eddie Howe and head of recruitment Steve Nickson set to work hand in hand with the 54-year-old in the busy trading period.
Howe made his position on the next director of football clear last month and said: "It is essential you have a structure that works for your club.
"You need people in positions that can help you manage.
"It's not my decision and not my call.
"If it did happen it's something I'd embrace."
Hammond spent over a decade in the position of director of football at Reading but left in 2016 to join West Brom.
He spent three years at the Hawthorns before moving to Celtic.
Hammond had a mixed record at Celtic and was the target of criticism from fans over signings such as £5million Vasilis Barkas.
His immediate brief is to try to help improve Newcastle's defence with United currently having the worst backline in the Premier League.
Whether Hammond is getting the audition to win the job on a permanent basis is not yet known with no official announcement from the club at this stage.
Newcastle have not commented on the appointment so far.
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