Newcastle players are said to have been left stunned by a fresh development at St James’ Park.
It has been a difficult summer for the Magpies so far, as the Premier League‘s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) cause issues – which almost led Anthony Gordon to join Liverpool – while Newcastle also watched their UEFA Conference League spot slip away due to Manchester United’s FA Cup win.
So, what new development has shocked Newcastle players? Let’s take a look…
Newcastle players surprised by Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi exit
As you may have already heard, Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi are leaving their roles as co-owners of Newcastle.
The couple have sold their 6% shares and will walk away from Tyneside, as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the Reuben family increase their own shares, as detailed by the BBC.
According to Joel Bland, it is a development which has stunned Newcastle players.
The respected journalist wrote on X (previously known as Twitter): “#NUFC squad only found out about Staveley and Ghodoussi’s departure yesterday morning with one source saying some players looked “bewildered” at the news. Clearly something that was not expected and kept away from the first-team.”
It is – in fairness – quite seismic news for the Magpies.
Staveley and Ghodoussi have held the reins at Newcastle since orchestrating the £305m Saudi takeover in 2021, where they then hired Eddie Howe to replace Steve Bruce, and oversaw the signings of key players such as Bruno Guimaraes, Nick Pope, Alexander Isak and Gordon.
Now, it remains to be seen what direction Newcastle and Howe will go in.
Eddie Howe needs focus
While some Newcastle players are shocked by Staveley and Ghodoussi leaving, Howe needs to get his squad focused.
The 2023/24 campaign was a strange one for the Magpies, as they went from UEFA Champions League football to having no European football on the schedule at all next season after finishing seventh.
READ MORE: Simon Jordan reacts after Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi leave Newcastle
Of course, that is not exactly a terrible position in the Premier League, although it obviously represents a backwards step from the 2022/23 campaign, so Howe must find a way to get Newcastle back to where they were, even in spite of the shock caused by Staveley and Ghodoussi leaving.