The Political Economy of Football V2

Not for the first time recently, a wind of change blows around St James’ Park, not in terms of ownership or purpose, but in approach, delivery and personnel. Almost five years on from the Saudi-led takeover, an era has ended with the departure of Eddie Howe, the transformative head coach who lifted a team and its city to new heights, and a new one is already taking shape. The club’s chief executive David Hopkinson calls it “Newcastle United 2.0”. Over the course of an hour-long interview with  The Athletic  in his office at St James’, Hopkinson addressed a range of subjects, including: Howe’s “extraordinary” record and his “admirable” decision to remain in post while Newcastle sourced his successor “Born winner” and “rock star” Jaissle, whose career has “no ceiling” Newcastle’s ambition “to be consistently and credibly competing for the top prizes” The continued commitment of Saudi’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the club’s majority ow...

Yasir Al-Rumayyan will lead a 25-strong delegation of PIF officials flying in for Newcastle United’s board-level meetings in Northumberland this week. The club’s chairman and governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Newcastle’s 85 per cent owners, will hear from senior figures throughout the club, including Eddie Howe, the head coach, and David Hopkinson, the CEO, during an annual ‘off-siting’ conference at Matfen Hall, the luxury country hotel 16 miles west of Newcastle, on Wednesday and Thursday. Hopkinson has confirmed that Newcastle’s plans for their stadium — with a decision to be made on whether to expand St James’ Park or build a new ground nearby — and their training ground, with a site identified at Woolsington near Newcastle International Airport, will be on the agenda, as will his already approved plan to turn the club into one of the world’s best by 2030. Around 25 PIF officials, according to Hopkinson, will be joined by Jamie Reuben, the minority owne...

Newcastle United have agreed a £6 million-a-year deal for their first-ever training ground and training-kit sleeve sponsor in a major boost to their revenues. KNOX Hydration — a South African sports drinks company, not affiliated with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the club’s 85 per cent majority owners — has bought the three-year naming rights to Newcastle’s Darsley Park training ground in Benton from July 1. Despite identifying land for a state of the art   training centre in Woolsington, near Newcastle International Airport, such a substantial infrastructure project is still multiple years away, given it requires planning permission and then needs to be constructed. Naming rights for what Hopkinson insists will be a “10-out-of-10” facility would be substantially more lucrative in the future. In the meantime, Newcastle are expanding and refurbishing their current site, having already invested heavily in Darsley Park since the Saudi-financed takeover of Oc...

Contrary to widely held belief, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia has contributed wonderfully to English football this summer. It’s done marvellously for Liverpool, excellently for Chelsea, great for Manchester City and, further afield, even found time to help Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid too.  For Newcastle United, not so much. Indeed, those who once welcomed the PIF to the city will increasingly worry whether it cares much for their club at all.  Saudi Arabian money propped up Fifa’s Club World Cup, which was only going to benefit two English clubs — Chelsea and City — plus a longer list of European royalty. Now, PIF-backed Al-Hilal have paid £46.3million for Darwin Núñez of Liverpool, a windfall that may help facilitate their continued interest in Newcastle’s crown jewel, Alexander Isak.  In landing Darwin Nunez from Liverpool in a deal worth at least £46million this week, Al Hilal will believe they have made another statement for the Saudi Pro Leag...