Elephant in boardroom

AS Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich tries to sell Chelsea – 21 trophies won, £1.5billion spent – Newcastle United are at the start of their billion-pound journey.

Seduced by Saudi billions, Geordies anticipate big spending on new players and a club chasing titles again.

Already the atmosphere at St James’ Park is transformed from the Mike Ashley era.

But we can’t ignore the scrutiny and accountability that is needed.

This week, 10 percent Toon stakeholder Mehrdad Ghodoussi, broker of the Saudi deal with wife Amanda Staveley (below), tweeted: “It’s hard to watch the news and not get emotional. My thoughts and prayers for the people of Ukraine.”

Fine sentiments. But there was an elephant in the Toon boardroom.

Under the leadership of Mohammed

Bin Salman, chairman of the stateowned Public Investment Fund that owns 80 percent of Newcastle, a Saudi-led coalition has bombed Yemen.

Just like in Ukraine, civilians are suffering. Since the offensive in Yemen started in March 2015, there have been 23,000 airstrikes, with 10,000 civilians injured and 8,000 killed, according to a range of official observers.

A UN envoy reported a “sharp and dangerous escalation of the conflict”. with 650 civilian casualties in January.

So if Newcastle execs are going to align themselves with anti-war peace sentiment in Ukraine, they should look at Yemen – and condemn it.

As Chelsea fans are finding, it’s healthy to keep a sceptical eye on the price of mega-money ownership and not to be a cheerleader.