Staveley vows to transform Newcastle

AMANDA Staveley has vowed to transform Newcastle into a club challenging for trophies and Champions League football after her Saudi-backed consortium finally completed its takeover.

Thousands of delirious fans converged on St James’ Park on Thursday evening to celebrate official confirmation that Mike Ashley’s ill-fated reign on Tyneside was over, with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which has taken an 80 per cent stake in the club, Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media having handed over £305million in exchange for the keys.

The financier told supporters outside the Jesmond Dene

House hotel, where the consortium members had gathered to await news, that they were there for the long haul and would invest in the club, and later outlined her vision for the future.

Asked if a return to Champions League football was the aim, Staveley said: “I would hope so.

“Obviously we bought this club with a view that we want the fans to get the trophies they deserve and we need to work with the fans to help us get there and that will take some time.

“We’re not going to be winning the Premier League just yet and it’s going to take some time to build the infrastructure at all levels to allow us to challenge for trophies.

“We love the FA Cup. Newcastle last won the FA Cup in 1955 – that’s a long time. We’ll get there.

“We’re obviously painfully aware of the relegation issue and we’re going to do everything we can to make sure the club is not relegated.

“But all decisions about players and managers are for another day.”