Newcastle United's owners have effectively had to work backwards since the takeover exactly six months ago but, come the end of the year, the hierarchy could have their desired skeleton structure in place. A head coach has, of course, already been appointed in Eddie Howe; a sporting director, Dan Ashworth, is on his way once the Brighton technical director serves his extended period of gardening leave; and a chief executive officer (CEO) will follow.
While speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit last month, Amanda Staveley revealed that the powers at be had already spoken to some 'amazing candidates' for the CEO position and the part-owner hoped an appointment was 'not too far away'. Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi have effectively been operating as interim chief executives, themselves, in recent months, which has given the pair intimate knowledge of what they require.
While Staveley and Ghodoussi recognise they have not got the experience of other CEOs, the pair hope to support the new chief executive in an effort to achieve the club's long-term goals as soon as possible. So, as much as the owners want a figure with creativity and vision who will push them, whoever comes in will clearly need to be a collaborator as Howe has been and Ashworth will be. The owners, after all, are keen to retain the 'family' feel at the club going forward so that everyone, from top to bottom, continues to feel like they are playing their part and pulling in the same direction
