Social media deals spread Toon appeal

NEWCASTLE United managingdirector Lee Charnley has spoken of the importance of the club’s new social media accounts after announcing deals with Sina Weibo, WeChat and Dongqiudi.

United already have fan groups in major cities in China but are now aiming to extend their reach even further in the Far East.

Takeover talk at United has been rife this month with news of a Chinese consortium expressing an interest, but no official bids have been submitted for either a share in the club or the full operation itself.

Charnley said: “Social media plays a hugely important role in how we engage with supporters, particularly those who are unable to be close to St James’ Park, so we are pleased to be launching new accounts on Sina Weibo, WeChat and Dongqiudi.

“With a number of existing fan groups in China and a growing presence in the region, both as a Premier League club and now as a partner of FUN88, this is a natural step for us and we look forward to connecting with even more fans and sharing our experiences with them.”

A Newcastle statement read: “The club has unveiled official accounts on hugely popular Sina Weibo, WeChat and Dongqiudi platforms, boosting communication and engagement with millions of sports fans across the Far East.

“Micro-blogging site Sina Weibo is one of the most visited websites in China, with well over half a billion registered users.

“It is widely regarded as hybrid of Western social media platforms Facebook and Twitter.

“The Magpies’ ‘Weibo’ account will feature a variety of bespoke content, including the best images, video and digital content from the Magpies throughout the 2017/18 Premier League season and beyond.

“WeChat is a dynamic micromessaging app with more than 900m active users - around 90% of whom are based in China.

“Newcastle United’s official WeChat account will provide subscribers with a packed feed of the latest news and updates from the club, as well as the use of unique player-based sticker emojis and the potential for a number of additional services.

“Dongqiudi, meanwhile, is a popular football-specific social networking app that was established in 2013.

The app enables supporters in China to join their own online club community, getting closer to the team despite following from afar.”