Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan was at St. James’ Park on Sunday ahead of a significant round of talks about the club’s future.

The governor of the Public Investment Fund watched on as Newcastle held on to a 4-1 lead against Nottingham Forest by the skin of their teeth after a second half comeback by Nottingham Forest.

Al-Rumayyan was not just on Tyneside to take in Premier League action, as the Magpies closed the gap to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to just three points, but for ‘hugely significant’ meetings about the next steps for Newcastle.

PIF chief set for Toon talks

Toon chairman Al-Rumayyan is set to undergo talks about the future of St. James’ Park and Newcastle’s training ground, according to Craig Hope.

The journalist said on X: ’Yasir Al-Rumayyan due on Tyneside today. As reported in Newcastle Confidential earlier this month, this visit is hugely significant. Discussions over stadium move/development + training ground will take place. Decisions imminent, with announcements to follow at later dates.’

Decisions on the infrastructure are set to take place in the boardroom during Al-Rumayyan’s time in the north east, with the future of Newcastle United Football Club set to move from the grounds of St James’ Park. 

The sloppy second half he endured against Forest may prove a timely reminder that investment is also needed within the playing squad with no first team signing in the last three windows.

New stadium coming soon?

A major exclusive in the Telegraph earlier this month reported that the Newcastle board will recommend PIF to conduct a £1.2 billion project a short distance away from our current dwellings at St James’.

70,000 is the alleged attendance that the ambitious rebuild would achieve, making our new home second only to Old Trafford of any club in the country in terms of capacity. Final plans are almost in place, with the club’s majority stakeholders having the final say.

Current drafts for the new stadium would see us primarily situated on the grounds of St. James’ Park, moving onto “only a small part” of Leazes Park in our rebuild – keeping the stadium right in the heart of the city.