They may have left the club last year, but Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi still have plenty to say about Newcastle United.
The pair were key to the PIF takeover at Newcastle United in 2021 and were the public face for the new look Magpies over their three-year affiliation with the club.
Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi sold their 6% share in Newcastle in July of 2024, and a lot has changed since they’ve gone.
Eddie Howe remains as Newcastle manager but is under pressure, star man Alexander Isak has left the club, and the Magpies are now struggling in the Premier League. But, the influential duo see plenty of reasons to be positive.
Amanda Staveley on Alexander Isak, Eddie Howe, and PSR
In an interview with Sky Sports News prior to the Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn fight on Saturday night, Staveley and Ghodoussi were asked about how they feel with regards to Newcastle right now, especially in light of Isak’s departure.
Staveley said: “I’m just so proud of Newcastle and how they’re doing and we love Alex and we know he is going to do well at Liverpool. They’ve got an extraordinary player, but equally so, it’s great to see the forwards doing so well at Newcastle and the team doing well.
“So proud of Eddie. Always. Of all the lads, and the girls, too. They’ve done so well… I know Bruno was in London with the Brazil squad this morning, so we were running around trying to see him.”
Given Bruno’s stance on Staveley returning to Newcastle, it figures that the pair would look to reunite at this opportunity.
Staveley was then asked about her thoughts on PSR rules, and surprisingly, she doesn’t think they negatively impacted Newcastle during her time there.
“No I don’t think PSR is restricting [clubs like Newcastle]. I think the rules are quite helpful and they’re there to give competition,” she replied. “We navigated them well.”
Ghodoussi then jumped in and added: “They’re there for a reason. They will adapt in time I’m sure, like everything does, but Newcastle is doing fantastically well. A bit of a hiccup in the Premier League, but they’re doing well in the Champions League and we’re super proud of Eddie and the boys.”
Have Newcastle United gone backwards?
Staveley and Ghodoussi made some brilliant decisions during their time at Newcastle. However, their decision to leave the club does feel like a mistake for all parties.
Last season was a success, of course, with the club finishing fifth in the league and winning the Carabao Cup. But, the lack of progress since has been worrying.
The club may be performing well in the Champions League this season, but their league form is a real concern right now, and there is a real lack of cohesion and balance on the pitch.
Newcastle were told not to hire Eddie Howe at the time. He’s obviously proven he was the right man for the job given what he’s achieved so far, but there’s a valid argument to say that he’s taken the club as far as he can now.
There is still plenty of time to turn things around and it sounds like PIF have faith in Howe. But, it’s not surprising that there are doubts creeping in, as the way Newcastle acted in the summer and the subsequent performances have certainly looked, from the outside at least, like a club in decline.
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