TROPHIES ARE NEW CURRENCY

vision of a club that will challenge for honours and be run responsibly.

And the writing is on the wall for Steve Bruce, with Staveley demanding a drastic improvement on the pitch.

She said: “It has taken us four years to get here. We’re here to invest.

“We are patient. Our ambition is aligned with the fans – to create a consistently successful team that’s regularly competing for major trophies and generates pride across the globe.

“We are genuinely here to try and make sure that we become the best custodians of the club we can be.

“You are the greatest fans in the world.”

Speaking about the club’s current position in the league, she added: “Relegation is a real big issue at the moment, performances could do with some improvement.

“But we’ve got a great squad. This squad shouldn’t be in 19th position.”

Bruce’s reign will be short, although no one is lined up yet to replace him.

Out-of-work bosses Eddie Howe and Antonio Conte, plus Leicester’s Brendan Rodgers, are fancied.

On Bruce, Staveley added: “We’re going to do a review of football operations, commercial side of the club, we’ll come back and make some decisions.”

Newcastle fans celebrated the announcement that the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia had completed the deal at 5.18pm by lighting flares outside St James’ Park. The deal with Ashley

will come with controversy.

The new ownership fund, the PIF, is chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while the Saudi’s human rights record will be highlighted by Amnesty.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will own 80 per cent.

Staveley will have a place on the board with a 10 per cent stake along with Jamie Reuben, whose family also take a 10 per cent stake.