Darren Eales believed the £300million Saudi-backed takeover signalled bad news for the Premier League’s elite once the deal was completed last October. Newcastle United appointed the 49-year-old as the club’s new CEO on Friday night - ending his eight-year stint in the United States.
Previously at Atlanta United, Eales helped the Five Stripes grow from a newly-formed club to the second most valuable MLS franchise in eight years. In 2018, Atlanta won the MLS Cup just four years after their foundation, with Miguel Almiron starring in the final against Portland Timbers.
Eales will oversee the day-to-day running of Newcastle and fills a role that had been vacant since Lee Charnley’s departure last season. A new-look board featuring directors with individual remits is a far cry from what supporters were used to under Mike Ashley.
