Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has been discussing Newcastle United and their search for a new chief executive.
Ever since Newcastle were taken over by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, it’s fair to say that change has been the order of the day for the club.
Not only has there been a change of manager, but there have also been numerous changes when it comes to the playing staff during the January transfer window, and there has even been a change in the boardroom, with Lee Charnley’s exit confirmed back in November.
The club have been on the hunt for a new CEO ever since, with co-owner Mehrdad Ghodoussi stating in an interview with The Athletic back in February that the new chief executive must have “a vision about making a successful, sustainable business. Driving commercial revenues means more money and that means the club can invest more into its infrastructure, into its squad and everything else.”
So it sounds as if they are going to be very careful with their appointment in the role, and speaking in a recent interview with GiveMeSport, Downie spoke about how the club have operated in recent months and what he thinks is likely to happen with them going forward with regards to a timeframe for the new appointment.
He said: “They decided to do the January window themselves, but I would expect a CEO, certainly, to arrive by the end of the season.”
TIF Thoughts on Keith Downie’s comments about Newcastle United and a new chief executive…
Will Newcastle have a new CEO by the end of the season as Downie hints at?
Yes
No
The phrase ‘by the end of the season’ should certainly be seen as a cause for optimism from Newcastle United fans.
Because the sooner they can put someone in place, the sooner it will give them the chance to become the big club that the owners set out as their ambition when they initially took over, much in the same way as the sooner that the club can appoint Dan Ashworth as technical director, it will help them to ease through transfers in the summer window.
Plus, with their place in the league still not totally safe, at least they can start planning for all eventualities just in case they do slip down into the Championship rather than working on a Premier League budget for next season.
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