Dan calling right Toon

THE scale of Newcastle United’s ambition both on and off the pitch is no longer in doubt.

When serious football operators like sporting director Dan Ashworth, chief executive Darren Eales and coach Eddie Howe trumpet a vision where they challenge for honours and compete regularly in Europe, it is time to take them seriously.

Not only that, Howe’s side – just two transfer windows into their rebuild from being relegation candidates – are flying high around the top six.

Resistance to what is effectively Saudi state ownership will linger, and legitimate questions over their involvement remain.

But the reason why the Premier League passed the takeover is now becoming clearer.

The league has a thriving established elite, dominating titles and cups. Newcastle United have genuine potential to be the great disrupters, and what a story that will be.

Inevitably that shake-up will help sell TV rights around the world, increasing the income of all the clubs in the league.

Eales talked this week of his visit to the European Clubs’ Association which the Toon have not bothered with for ages. He talked of the buzz other execs were showing about Newcastle, the transformed atmosphere at St James’, and where the “project” is going.

Howe claimed on Friday his club can become as big as Manchester United over time. The mantra being: “There’s no ceiling.”

Folk outside the North East will bristle, thinking it is all talk.

But Ashworth (above) was respectful, recognising they have “no God-given right” to be a top-six side.

He’s right. Some of those clubs have triple Newcastle’s turnover, pay triple their top wage and are years ahead in terms of club building.

But like Ashworth said: “You never know in football how quick a project can progress. Leicester won the title with 5,000-1 odds.”