TALK OF THE TOON
Amanda Staveley vows to win Prem title at Newcastle but gives no job assurances to Steve Bruce after Toon takeover
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AMANDA STAVELEY has vowed to land Newcastle’s first-ever Premier League title.
But the club’s new joint-owner refused to back manager Steve Bruce after finally buying the Magpies from Mike Ashley for £300million.
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Newcastle have not won the league since 1927 but are now the RICHEST club in the world with the backing of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Asked if the landing the Premier League was the target, the new Queen of the North said: “Absolutely. We have the same ambitions as PSG and Manchester City in terms of trophies.
“Premier League football is the best in the world, and Newcastle United is the best team in the world.
“We want to see it get those trophies. At the top of the Premier League, In Europe, but to get trophies means patience, investment time.
“Newcastle United deserves to be top of the Premier League and we want to get there. It’ll take time but we’ll get there.”
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Thursday’s confirmation of the end of Ashley’s controversial 14-year reign sparked a huge party outside St James’ Park and across the city as fans chanted: “We’ve got our club back.”
Staveley added: “Our ambition is aligned with the fans – to create a consistently successful team that’s regularly competing for major trophies.
“Do we want to win the Premier League within five to 10 years? Yes.”
Analysts predict Newcastle will be able to spend well over £200million on new players in the next three years without breaching Financial Fair Play rules.
And Staveley added: “The PIF is obviously very wealthy and that’s sometimes quite daunting, but they are also very commercially astute as partners.
“It’s going to make the most incredible investment.
“We have big ambitions, and we love the FA Cup. Newcastle last won the FA Cup in 1955 – that’s a long time.”
Staveley spoke to under-fire boss Bruce on Thursday but did not give the Geordie any backing with Newcastle 19th in the league.
She added: “We’re painfully aware of the relegation issue and we’re going to do everything we can to make sure the club is not relegated. It is a concern.
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“But all decisions about players and manager are for another day.
“I did speak to the manager and say hello and introduce ourselves. We look forward to speaking to him over the next few days.
“We’re going to do a review right through the football operations and come back and make some decisions.”
Fans are desperate for Bruce to leave, who has presided over a winless start after seven games.
Unpopular Bruce, who has been in charge since July 2019, admits he could face the chop under the new owners.
While no decision has officially been made yet, the Geordie is soon set to be handed a hefty pay-off of around £4million.
And Bruce told said: “I want to continue, I’d like the chance to show the new owners what I can do, but you have to be realistic and they may well want a new manager to launch things for them.
“New owners normally want a new manager. I’ve been around long enough to understand that. I will accept what comes my way.”
Yorkshire-born financier Staveley helped broker Sheikh Mansour’s takeover of Manchester City in 2008.
But Staveley, 48, always had bigger plans and now she has the Citizens — and the rest of football’s global elite — in her sights.
She said: “Newcastle United deserves to be top of the Premier League and we want to get there. It will take time but we will get there.
“We are here to invest. Not just in players but also the community and the academy.
“This is long term and we are excited about the future prospects for Newcastle United. We intend to instil a united philosophy across the club, establish a clear purpose and help provide leadership that will allow Newcastle United to go on to big achievements over the long term.
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“Our ambition is aligned with the fans — to create a consistently successful team that’s regularly competing for major trophies and generates pride across the globe. We have big ambitions.”
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Staveley spoke to manager Bruce last night but said no decision has been made on his future.
While it feels inevitable he will soon be gone, it was business as usual for the Geordie yesterday as he took training.
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