Amanda Staveley: Building exciting brand of football at Newcastle is just as important as winning trophies

Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley told us that building an exciting brand of football at St. James’ Park is just as important as winning trophies at the club, which she believes will also come in due course.

Speaking at the FWA Awards on Sunday, the Ripon financier explained that the club’s new board expect Newcastle to be challenging at the top of the Premier League and Champions League in the future, but that right now it’s important to ensure the Magpies fans are proud of the style of football on show in the north-east.

“We think Newcastle can go to the top of the Premier League and the top of the Champions League, but it’s not just about winning the trophies,” said Staveley. “It’s about building brilliant, sustainable football every week. Exciting, attacking football that the fans deserve. It’s been an incredible journey for us, and it wouldn’t have happened without the support of the Public Investment Fund.

“We’re a small part of it, and I’m just very grateful for all the support the PIF have given us in making sure we can do the work that we needed to do in the transfer window and beyond.”

Staveley believes one of the reasons the club are on the right track to building the exciting brand of football that the owners desire and fans deserve is due to the success of Eddie Howe for the short time the former Bournemouth and Burnley manager has been in charge so far.

“We’re just so pleased for him [Eddie Howe], because the day we interviewed him we just knew he was the perfect manager and he’s just had the most incredible run of success, but a huge amount of work has gone into that,” she said.

“He’s really diligent, and he works so hard with the lads. I spent a lot of time with him in Saudi Arabia, which was lovely, when we were travelling, and I got to really understand his training methods, but he works incredibly hard and that’s why the results are there. But equally so, a great manager needs a great team and we’ve just been so impressed with the boys and that’s important.”

The Newcastle co-owner also explained that the club have benefitted from the January transfer window signings settling in so well, which has enabled them to have an instant impact on and off the park.

“They’ve settled so well,” she said. “It’s always difficult when you make a lot of changes and transitions in the January transfer window…the window is illiquid anyway and….to be honest I think a lot of the teams just didn’t want to sell players, especially European teams, and Eddie knew exactly what he wanted.

“We set up a transfer committee and we obviously don’t have a Director of Football at the minute, so we did that work in house and [head of recruitment] Steve Nickson’s team have been amazing and we all just sort of worked together and everyone’s settled brilliantly.”

Staveley also took time to recognise the welcome the Saudi committee have had from Newcastle supporters in the city and further afar.

She said: “It’s incredible [the support]. I mean every day and obviously going into the city…we feel so at home here. I fell in love with Newcastle the first time I came, and the people have just been extraordinary. So, the welcome we’ve had is just unique and we’re very grateful and privileged to work for the club and I hope we can deliver some great results in the years to come.”

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