Amanda Staveley did not know it at the time, but Eddie Howe and assistant Jason Tindall were not the only figures present in the directors' box at the Amex who were going to have a big say on Newcastle United's future.
The club's prospective sporting director, Dan Ashworth, was sitting just a few rows behind Staveley, Howe and Tindall ahead of Newcastle's new coaching team being unveiled last November.
Ashworth even shook Howe's hand as he made his way to his seat before the latter appeared to gesture that they would catch up inside after Newcastle's game against Brighton.
