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Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson sent a text that should delight fans amid plans to accelerate project

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David Hopkinson does not want to waste time when it comes to trying to turn Newcastle United into a global force.

Indeed, CEO Hopkinson believes that Newcastle United can become one of the best clubs in the world by 2030, which is rather exciting for supporters to hear.

Clearly, there will be hurdles for owners PIF to overcome at Newcastle United. The Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) do not make things easy, after all.

Pretend you’re Eddie Howe. Which position are you begging PIF to strengthen in January?

Is there one particular area that you really feel PIF should spend on?

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe looks on against West Ham.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Still, the ambition is there, and Hopkinson appears to embody it.

Despite a bruising summer transfer window and an indifferent start to the 2025/26 season, the club’s CEO believes Newcastle can accelerate from here and become a genuine player in world football.

Newcastle United CEO David Hopkinson speaks to head coach Eddie Howe.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images

David Hopkinson does not think it will take 10 years to transform Newcastle United

Hopkinson spoke to several media outlets this week, one of which was The Daily Telegraph.

Interestingly, Luke Edwards of that publication revealed that he’d received a text from the Canadian.

Following a piece that Edwards wrote in which he argued it would take ten years to get Newcastle into a position where they would be where they want to be, Hopkinson got in contact with the journalist.

In a piece on The Daily Telegraph, Edwards wrote: “When Hopkinson texted me, after a piece I had written in October, arguing it would be at least a decade until Newcastle’s Saudi Arabian owners realised their ambition to see the club competing regularly for the biggest prizes, he insisted he would deliver it in less time. It was a good-natured exchange but it was obvious he was serious.

“He has now gone public.”

If you were PIF, what would you do about Newcastle United’s stadium? 🏟️

Recognising that we are going to be at St James’ Park, in pretty much its current form, for years to come is important.

David Hopkinson speaks to the Telegraph about Newcastle United’s new stadium

Eddie Howe is already on course to meet one target under David Hopkinson

It’s brilliant to hear Hopkinson be so ambitious.

Clearly, progress will not be linear, but Newcastle have made quicker progress than many would have imagined following the takeover.

As things stand, PIF want Newcastle to challenge for the top five in the Premier League

They’ve consistently done that under Eddie Howe and there’s little reason that cannot continue.  

Position Team Played MP Won W Drawn D Lost L For GF Against GA Diff GD Points Pts
8 LiverpoolLiverpool14 7 1 6 21 21 0 22
9 Manchester UnitedManchester United13 6 3 4 21 20 1 21
10 EvertonEverton14 6 3 5 15 17 -2 21
11 TottenhamTottenham14 5 4 5 23 18 5 19
12 NewcastleNewcastle14 5 4 5 19 18 1 19
13 BrentfordBrentford14 6 1 7 21 22 -1 19
14 BournemouthBournemouth14 5 4 5 21 24 -3 19
15 FulhamFulham14 5 2 7 19 22 -3 17
16 Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest14 4 3 7 14 22 -8 15

Granted, the inconsistent nature of this season means the top five currently feels very far away.

However, the Premier League table is particularly tight right now. Newcastle are only four points off Crystal Palace in fifth as things stand.  

Big targets have been set and they have largely been achieved in recent years. Would anyone seriously have expected to win a trophy so quickly? Almost certainly not.

There’s every reason to believe that Hopkinson can be proven right.