Amanda Staveley has admitted that the ‘whirlwind’ start to life as Newcastle United owner has been ‘worth it’.
It’s almost 12 months since the takeover finally went through. The incredibly long saga came to an end on October 7th 2021, with Mike Ashley selling the club to Staveley and co.
It ended a saga that had been going on for more than a year, with news of PIF’s interest in the club first emerging in January 2020.
Now it’s September 2022 and everything has changed at Newcastle United. The club is completely unrecognisable to what it was 12 months ago.
We have a team that is competing on the pitch, an ownership that is committed to the club being successful, and the right people calling the shots behind the scenes. Major changes have been made at every level, and the Magpies are continuing to go in the right direction.
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Getting the deal over the line was hard work, and the hard work hasn’t stopped even though they got the keys to the club almost a year ago.
But Staveley appears to be loving every minute of it.
Staveley speaks out on first year of Newcastle project
Staveley is always seen when Newcastle play at St James’ Park, and she is also in attendance when the club’s women’s team plays.
That’s where she was on Sunday, and she spoke to The Magpie Channel before the game. Staveley was asked to sum up how much of a whirlwind the first 12 months in charge have been.
“I think we’ve found it astonishing,” she said.
“It’s been a whirlwind but it’s been worth every minute because the fans are just incredible. Every game it just gets better and better.
“We’re working hard. We want to create the best football in both the women’s and the men’s team. We’re a community, a family, and it’s really important that we’re doing this together.
“It’s been a whirlwind, hard work but worth it.”
Given the state the club was in when they took over, it’s no surprise how frantic the first 12 months have been.
They have had to change so much in such a short space of time. When the deal went through we looked like relegation certainties, and that didn’t change until early 2022.
But Staveley and co’s hard work is paying off, and they now have a more streamlined club that is geared up for future success. When that happens remains to be seen, but the foundations have certainly been laid.