Newcastle United chiefs swung open the doors of a conference room at the Hyatt Regency hotel and offered full communication to supporters based in the Middle East and the fans who have made the 3,200-mile journey from Tyneside.
Co-owners Amanda Staveley and Jamie Reuben were on stage, alongside CEO Darren Eales, club ambassador Shola Ameobi, head coach Eddie Howe and assistant Simon Weatherstone, captain Jamaal Lascelles, Jacob Murphy and Sean Longstaff and all spoke to fans in an epic Q and A session. In what proved to be the perfect build-up to the eagerly anticipated friendly clash against Al-Hilal, the finale of the club's venture to Saudi Arabia, fans were told to expect the type of ambition that had previously been dismissed at St James' Park.
Toon supporters were thanked for their loyalty and patience by the owners after the four-year wait for the takeover to go through. Fans may be far away from home but the journey that the club is on is nothing short of remarkable.
