Speaking on the Transfer Window Podcast, Duncan Castles and Jonathan Northcroft have been speaking about Newcastle United’s structure in a post-takeover world and their hunt for a new manager.
Newcastle are now one of the richest clubs in the world, but it seems as though their backroom structure isn’t really coherent.
PIF own the club, but it seems as though Amanda Staveley and PCP Capital are the ones fronting most of the day-to-day running of the Tyneside outfit.
Castles and Northcroft have tried to explain the situation behind the scenes at St James’ Park.
What’s been said?
The pair attempted to explain what’s happening at Newcastle.
“It looks like Unai Emery might be the choice. So, there’s difficulties already, they haven’t had a bounce, the problems are deeper than that and it’s fascinating. On top of that you have the situation with Amanda Staveley who is only the interim CEO let’s say,” Jonathan Northcroft said.
“She’s got a management contract to run Newcastle, but she’s not the CEO, she’s not in charge, she’s running it on a temporary basis at the moment on behalf of Saudi Arabia who are making the ultimate decisions, and that creates a difficulty.
“Manchester City only took off eventually when Khaldoon Al Mubarak replaced Sulaiman Al-Fahim who was briefly involved in fronting the takeover. Newcastle just don’t have anything like that, they have a temporary CEO and very little structure behind that, a poor squad with high expectations and maybe a pragmatic manager.”
Duncan Castles then added what he knows about the situation.
“Amanda Staveley and PCP Capital have a management contract and I’m told that will remain in place while they’re doing a good job, so they are working to try and justify their position controlling the club,” Castles said.
“As you say, Saudi Arabia are fundamental in these decisions. PCP are making recommendations as for managers and Sporting Directors that Saudi Arabia have to sign off on. My understanding is that Saudi Arabia have had representatives involved with these interviews with the candidates. It’s a unique situation and I haven’t seen it before in the Premier League.”
Worrying
This is something of a worrying update.
Yes, Newcastle will be successful eventually. After all, they have too much money to fail, but this season their number one priority has to be to stay up.
If PIF and Staveley are pulling in different directions then things will quickly become complicated, and if Newcastle don’t start picking up points soon then that threat of relegation becomes bigger and bigger with each passing week.
Newcastle need to make sure everyone behind the scenes is on the same page soon because the on-field problems need addressing as soon as possible.
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