In a brilliant chat with The Athletic’s George Caulkin, co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi have provided an exciting update on all things NUFC.
They’ve all but confirmed that Dan Ashworth will become our new sporting director, rubbished talk of building a new stadium – planning to increase St James’ Park’s capacity instead.
Eddie Howe has also received huge support – being backed to become our ‘Alex Ferguson’ – with them also revealing how Sven Botman remains keen on a move and that January signing Kieran Trippier will be here for the long haul.
Ghodoussi says a three to four year plan is in place to build world-class training facilities, while Staveley has confirmed that Shearer’s statue WILL be moving onto stadium ground – which will be followed by ‘Nine Bar’ going back to ‘Shearer’s.’
Staveley also reveals plans to invest in our women’s team and vows to “vigorously” defend legal action instigated by Mike Ashley; the former Toon owner closing in on a takeover at Derby County.
Here’s the 12 brilliant bullet points included in the piece, offering some of the key updates The Athletic took from Caulkin’s interview with NUFC’s co-owners:
1. “I would love Eddie (Howe) to be the next (Sir) Alex Ferguson,” Ghodoussi says of their head coach.
2. While they do not name him, Dan Ashworth, who is currently on gardening leave at Brighton & Hove Albion, will be appointed sporting director.
3. They have had “the most incredible candidates come forward,” for the CEO role, Staveley says.
4. While they aim to increase the 52,000 capacity at St James’, there are no plans to build a new stadium. “It would be like tearing your soul out,” Ghodoussi says.
5. They are looking at sites for a purpose-built, world-class training ground. “That will probably take three years, maybe a little bit more,” Ghodoussi says.
6. As far as they are concerned, their management contract will continue once a CEO arrives.
7. Kieran Trippier, “isn’t someone we’ll ever sell,” Staveley says of their recent signing from Atletico Madrid. “If he can play, he will stay.”
8. Other January targets like Sven Botman and Jesse Lingard, “wanted to come,” to Tyneside and Botman, the Lille defender, “still does very much,” Staveley says.
9. Newcastle’s women’s team will be paid “as professionals,” says Staveley and they want them to play at St James’ this season.
10. Alan Shearer’s statue will shortly be moved onto stadium ground, close to Sir Bobby Robson’s and “Nine Bar” will be turned back into “Shearer’s”.
11. They can “work with,” the Premier League’s new rules on associated party sponsorship.
12. They will “vigorously” defend legal action from Ashley for allegedly breaching the terms of a £10 million loan he provided to help facilitate the club’s £305 million sale in October.
If you haven’t read it already, we encourage you to read the brilliant interview in full HERE.
After years of neglect and an awful start to the 2021/22 season, it suddenly feels an extremely exciting time to be a Newcastle United fan, with big moves being made both on and off the pitch.
