Toon chiefs speak out on Saint-Maximin sale, FFP, £125m spend, SJP plans and 30% growth

Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth and CEO Darren Eales have been answering questions on a range of key topics ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Speaking to The Athletic, the two Toon chiefs have revealed the truth behind Allan Saint-Maximin’s sale to the Saudi Pro League, our ongoing battle with FFP and ongoing growth on a global scale; believed to be up 30% based on Eales’ comments on BBC Radio Newcastle last night.

Ashworth offers an insight into the summer transfer window, speaks briefly about our £125m spend on Tonali, Barnes and Livramento, with an update on our plans to extend St James’ Park also coming from Eales; who confirms a feasibility study is underway from expert architects.

Here’s what they had to say, starting with Ashworth’s take on Saint-Maximin’s move to Al-Ahli:

“It wasn’t Allan that was targeted by us to trade. Allan was targeted by another club that ourselves and Allan thought was acceptable. We always hear lots of different rumours, but (were there) official bids (from other clubs)? No. Of course, there was some interest and calls.

“With the Premier League, you have to justify any trade as fair market value. There is protocol, the Premier League have to be happy. We are absolutely convinced it (the sale of Saint-Maximin) is fair market value and without going into the actual price it was, there is plenty of evidence of players of similar age, similar position, similar ability, similar CV that are moving for similar amounts outside the Saudi league.”

On Saint-Maximin’s exit, CEO Darren Eales added this, explaining why his reluctant sale was important from an FFP perspective:

‘When you dispose a player, you get all the revenue from that sale at that time. When you acquire a player, it’s amortised over the length of the contract. We always are restricted, as is every club, under FFP. There are tighter margins of error, and we are on that scale. 

‘With that, we’ve got revenues growing and the good news for Newcastle is that we are on a growth trajectory (up 30% globally), but that doesn’t stop the fact that when you spend a certain amount on players all in one go – without the sort of revenues the top six have at the moment – that means you’ve to be more circumspect with your spend.’

Ashworth then went on to discuss the summer window so far and our three first-team signings:

“The window is always busy. We’re always looking to improve, whether the starting 11, the squad or young and emerging players. What tends to happen is pre-season finishes and clubs hold a slightly higher number of players. Players then tend to be released from there and then you have the domino effect when the season starts and it accelerates.

“We’re all really pleased with the three we’ve bought (Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento). We are acutely aware we are competing in four competitions now so we’ve got the added bonus but also the added challenge of Europe. It’s not just the additional games, it’s the travel and midweek games. So it was really important we gave Eddie more competition for places.”

Last but not least, Eales also revealed the a feasibility study is underway to determine how much we can extend St James’ Park:

“We have kicked off the feasibility study. That is looking at the stadium and saying, ‘What is possible?’ Everyone now is an architect, everyone has a view on what you can and can’t do at St James’!

“We purchased the land at Strawberry Place because it was the right thing to do because if there is to be flexibility, it is key you have that piece of land. And, of course, in the short-term, as we have announced, it gives us the chance to use it as a fan zone. You may not be a season ticket holder but perhaps we can have a night for our membership, so they feel a deeper connection with the club.”