All the evidence seems to support a friend of mine's theory; this is not a long term commitment. But A serious and committed owner would forego the Euros, take a few bad stories on the chin and do the job. And, Ye Gods. That is an ugly bloody hotch potch of a ground.
An article written by Mark Douglas, ex of the Evening Chronicle and normally a pet journalist of NUFC. Interesting. Taking away the pro NUFC slant from Douglas you can read a few things between the lines. A new stadium is miles off and it looks like they're pinning all their hopes on building on Leazes Park. That's going to cause A LOT of issues, a grade 2 listed community park? Lose that and there's not a lot of public parkland in the centre of Newcastle and not everyone is interested in football. There could be legal challenges a plenty, along with plenty of bad publicity. It looks like Newcastle was close to losing Euro 2028 matches until they came out with thes guarantees to UEFA. Whether there'd have been a replacement ground or just going ahead without one is open for debate. But either way the stigma of losing out would hurt both the mags and the City of Newcastle a lot. This could be an excuse for the Saudis to get rid, if they can't get a new ground built. It seems ridiculous that they officially say no firm plans yet the article says there's internal designs been shown round the club. They either are aware how much trouble building on Leazes Park would be and are delaying it, or aren't really interested or involved as originally thought. Failure to build where they want could see either a small tart up of Sid James' or them just off load the mags. If they are pinning all their hopes on building on Leazes Park, it's massively short sighted. There are other part of Newcastle they could look to, Forth Yards near the centre for life, for example. It's central, a decent sized bit of land you could put a stadium on and no worse to get to than Sid James is. Interesting.
It's amazing how the league cup went from a micky mouse cup in 2014 to the best trophy in the world last year!
I think the Saudis were all in initially but have seen how the PSR changes have stopped Newcastle being able to muscle aside the other teams like Chelsea and Man City did. Seems like they are bored of it now and wouldn’t mind getting out. No factual basis, just observations.
Yep Building on Leazes Park is a legal minefield. Even up here, most people are NOT interested in football, and a challenge would be certain. It would also cost a few billion, as they would have to build, demolish, reinstate and make good. In a city centre. It would take years, even with a compliant council. They also indicated a while ago that funding for any such project would be , in part at least borrowed. If so, then interest on that borrowing would count against current PSR rules. I'd say they are staying at the hotch pitch. Until the concrete cancer does for it
That would all be fine if they could build on the land but they don't own it ... ... if the Saudis ever leave they'll struggle to find a buyer, the figures just don't add up.
I was going to include that about the funding, but thought it might get too long! But it's one of those case where when you stand back and look at things, stack the facts up one by one, you get a totally different picture or impression from what they want you to see. It's circumstantial at the minute, but it all points to the Saudis not being interested or happy with the Mags. The way the new ground is dragging on, the focus on signing players for the Saudi league, the focus on Saudi staging the 2034 World Cup, no investment in the training ground or academy, the turn over in directors of football and CEO (there's a rumour from the weekend that the new CEO has been stood down/has clashed with the owners and been censured), the way Staverley and her husband were dumped out. Put that together and it doesn't look a happy camp. Its really not out of possibility that the Saudis were sold a pup by Staverley to buy the mags, thought they could just spend what they want, but found out they couldn't and because they didn't get instant success lost interest. Staverley pays the price by getting chucked, but she's the one that gave on the ground leadership to the club (good or bad), without her they're essentially rudderless with an increasingly disinterested ownership.
They promised an announcement, on a new stadium, in 2025 which would be a huge commitment and an intrinsic part of the way forward. When it becomes clear that nothing will happen there's no one to tell the supporters so they feel disconnected. It's incredible that they can be so disrespectful that they don't feel it necessary to inform the people who've supported the club for decades ... ... as I said, the other day, if Ashley was still presiding over this shambles they'd be protesting non stop.
Ashley was a terrible owner though, especially in comparison to the Saudis! Wouldn't dare protests against this lot as they might **** off! They love being the richest clurb in the wurld! As has been said multiple times owners wealth downstairs matter, it matters what they put in! And it actually matters what work they put into it!
And far worse than any of our owners prior to Kyril! I mean, look at how he spent nothing (joelinton) and got them relegated and did nothing to get them back up! He also gave them season cards for free, instead of taking them off people and going corporate, the bastard!
fat fred could not wait too get rid and played ashley, ashley soon realised he had bought a pup but being a business man he tried to make good, he also had the common sense to know that simply throwing millions into a pit is worse than spending nowt...for good or bad he kept that club going and he was hounded over and over, i now honestly believe whoever owned them would have been hounded out as they all wanted 'that rich awab fella'. i said at the time, ashley played a blinder and managed to get some cash back and now the saudi's have realised exactly the same as ashley did...they cannot spend billions but the fan base won't hound them out, now they may just be taking a long hard look at the options to grow the club but i dare bet they are hitting exactly the same solid walls that fat fred hit.
With absolutely no interest in this at all I would guess that in truth their best option would be to takeover Gatesheads ground and redevelop in that area. Build something adjacent for Gateshead and solve their problems. However the Geordie Nayshun probably won't want that but it would tick most boxes for them and ease congestion in the city centre on match days. However Felling bypass may get a bit busy lol
