Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi work the room in Newcastle United's plush chairman's suite before, during and after the narrow but vital victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. They are proud co-owners who are at the start of a busy weekend of work and are approaching the end of their first six months as part of the consortium that celebrated the purchase of United last autumn.
As guests take their seats in the premier suite of St James' Park's executive level, at first glance for onlookers there is nothing unusual about the proceedings at a Premier League club. However, on closer examination, the same onlookers find that the Ripon financier and her husband and fellow director Mehrad are trying to do something different.
On Saturday, Staveley did something very different to the average top-flight director and invited members of the local Press into the chairman's suite as the Chronicle, Shields Gazette and Radio Newcastle were invited to the top table. This wasn't for a Press conference or Q and A style interview, something that is expected to follow once Newcastle are safe from the drop.
