Who else will follow owners through the doors at SJP this month?
MAGPIES HAVE INCREDIBLE FINANCIAL RESOURCES BUT WANT TO USE THEM WISELY Vo
IT will be a New Year’s Day with a difference for Newcastle United.
Although the club’s new owners were originally wary of investing in January, ‘because you probably don’t get the right deals’, countless hours have since been spent identifying players, compiling reports and speaking to agents ahead of the transfer window opening today.
It is a unpredictable period which is hard to plan for at the best of times but Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi will hope that groundwork will pay off after working ‘tirelessly’ to prepare for this 31-day trading period.
January is the first real test for the new owners and they will be wellaware of that.
While the timing of the takeover surprised the consortium, who took 13 days to dismiss head coach Steve Bruce before eventually bringing in Eddie Howe several weeks later, they have at least had a few months to
tM prepare for their first window.
It is a notoriously difficult window to do worthwhile business in but Newcastle’s perilous position in the table makes it even harder.
However, never has a side in a relegation battle had such a substantial mid-season financial lifeline.
It is hardly a surprise agents across the continent have been attempting to link their out of favour clients to Newcastle.
Yet behind the scenes, one word keeps cropping up: character.
Newcastle are going to need leaders who are prepared to come to the club for the right reasons rather than big names who are keen on one last pay day.
That is why the background checks which have been carried out on targets have been so important ahead of the window opening today. The hope is Newcastle can strike in the first half of the window to allow new arrivals to bed in before a crucial run of fixtures.
There is an FA Cup tie to come against Cambridge United next week – if Newcastle have enough players available, that is – but the Magpies do not play in the Premier League again until January 15 after tomorrow’s trip to Southampton was postponed.
To say that clash against 17thplaced Watford is a six-pointer probably does not do it justice.
In theory, if Watford lose against Spurs today and Burnley’s winless run continues, United could move out of the relegation zone for the first time since August with a win against the Hornets at St James’ Park.
Achieving just a second victory of
the season against a relegation rival would not only be huge psychologically - it would also set the Magpies up nicely for a run of fixtures against Leeds, Everton, Aston Villa, West Ham, Brentford and Brighton.
These are the games which will decide Newcastle’s fate this season and settled new additions could prove the difference to improve a squad which was not s t re n g t h - ened sufficiently last summer. Indeed, only 120 days ago, Newcastle issued a very different club statement when an anonymous employee essentially justified the previous regime’s approach.
It came just a few days after then boss Bruce was left frustrated by the club’s failure to sanction two further loan deals in the final days of the summer transfer window following th e ar r ival of his top target Joe Willock ( left) on a permanent basis.
In the statement, the club stressed ‘being run in a sustainable manner’ does not come at the ‘expense of being ambitious’. However, it summed up the make-do attitude of the Mike Ashley era.
Rather than building on the momentum generated from Newcastle’s 12th-placed finish the previous campaign, and ensuring Bruce had the tools to at least avoid a relegation battle, Ashley only had one thought in his mind - to resurrect the club’s Saudi-backed takeover.
That goal was actually referenced in Staveley and Ghodoussi’s own New Year message as the part-owners paid tribute to Ashley for ensuring that the ownership of the club ‘passed to people who could take the club forward responsibly’. The pair even went as far as to say that without Ashley’s ‘commitment’, the deal would ‘not have been possible’.
While Ashley and his Sports Direct signs have gone, the billionaire’s legacy lives on. The new owners quickly realised that after conducting a review of football operations and meeting employees to establish the additional support hard-working staff have long needed.
It is clear substantial investment is required across the board – from the foundation and the women’s team to infrastructure and the academy – and that will take time.
Time is the one thing the new owners will not have during the 31-day window but it is crucial they deliver this month. Newcastle’s hopes of survival depend on it.
NEWCASTLE United’s staff have worked ‘tirelessly to prepare for the January transfer window and 2022 will see the club make progress on and off the pitch.
That is the view of co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi as the Magpies look to strengthen their squad this month.
Sitting 19th in the Premier League and with just one win all season, United face a fight to avoid relegation just months after becoming one of the richest clubs in the world.
Bringing in new signings will be key if the Magpies are avoid to the drop and in a new year’s address to fans husband-and-wife duo Ghodoussi and Staveley indicated they are ready to make moves.
In a statement, they said: “Our most recent match at St James’ Park showed the power which can be generated when the players and supporters unite and feed off each other and it was wonderful to experience that special atmosphere.
“Let’s take that positivity into 2022 as we aim to progress on and off the pitch.
“We have very important fixtures ahead of us and a January transfer window which we have worked tirelessly to prepare for, so let’s face our challenges head on and look forward to the second half of the season with optimism.”
Staveley and Ghodoussi’s PCP Capital Partners acquired 10% of the Magpies earlier this year as part of a Saudi-backed consortium which bought the club from former owner Mike Ashley.
After more than 18 months of waiting in limbo to see if the deal would be approved, the £300million deal was completed in October.
In the statement, the new owners admitted they face massive challenges after years of malaise and underinvestment - but insist they are ready to do whatever it takes to turn things around at St James’ Park.
Staveley and Ghodoussi also thanked the club’s supporters and staff for helping them to settle in on Tyneside.
The statement added: “Despite the current challenges we see a bright and ultimately successful future for Newcastle United.
“The club has amazing fans. It has serious, long-term investors and the club has a workforce committed to getting the best for both the football club and the city of Newcastle. “We face some stern challenges ahead of us - not least the issues surrounding the continuing pandemic - but we will meet these challenges with fierce determination and a strong resolve to improve every aspect of the club while playing a full role in the community we serve.”
It went on: “We also thank each member of our staff who have embraced the changes which have already been made and shown a tremendous work ethic in very demanding circumstances.
“We all know we have a great deal to do but we will strive to fulfil this great club’s promise.
“As ever, the massively passionate support of our fans will be crucial as we look to improve our results on the pitch.
“We have had a very tough first half of the season but you have been right behind the team and we want to take this opportunity to let you know how very much we appreciate it.”
Despite the current challenges we see a bright and ultimately successful future for Newcastle United Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi