New manager, new players, new director of football, new CEO, new owners. A year after regime change and the ‘new’ has been put back into Newcastle United. Where they had lingered in limbo at the end of Mike Ashley’s reign, more has altered in 12 months than the previous five years. While the questions about the morality of the takeover of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund are largely aired outside St James’ Park, inside it, there is a sense of renewal amid a revival of hope and ambition.
That Mike Ashley sold a club in 19th and Saturday’s 5-1 demolition of Brentford left Newcastle fifth indicates the scale of change. Equally, it is easier to overtake the stragglers than the pacesetters and if future growth will not appear as quick, Newcastle’s next challenge is to retain a lofty position, to stand still rather than going forward.
