Darren Eales is set to discuss the findings of a feasibility study into the expansion of St James’ Park with the club’s Fan Advisory Board – but no decision has been made on the next course of action.
Confidential understands the chief executive will first meet with the nine members of the FAB and take feedback from them. Their next scheduled meeting is for early next week, although Eales’ attendance has not yet been confirmed.
The study, commissioned a year ago, will conclude that several options are open to the club, should they decide to stay at St James’. As much as this is the preference and the expectation, sources insist that a board decision has not yet been reached on how best to proceed.
There is also the complication of the current lease on the stadium, that has around 70 years to run and is held by Newcastle City Council. If the club and their Saudi owners are going to invest up to £1billion in a redevelopment instead of move to a new site, the terms of the St James’ lease – and its ownership structure – will have to be updated.
But while there is hope among supporters that Newcastle will very soon follow Leeds with the unveiling of detailed plans to expand their current home, that is not the case at present. The next step is the meeting with the FAB.
Darren Earles is set to meet with the nine members of the club’s Fan Advisory Board to discuss the potential expansion of St James’ Park
No decision has yet been made around the next course of action prior to the FAB meeting
Several options, however, are open to the club should they decide to stay at the stadium
Gordon deal close
Newcastle and Anthony Gordon are close to agreeing a new contract that will see the England winger extend his stay at St James’ Park.
We reported in August that preliminary talks had begun after a summer in which the club had considered selling their star winger to Liverpool to solve PSR issues.
Those discussions have accelerated and we understand there has been significant progress in recent weeks, with the framework of the package in place. Club sources are confident that the final details will be signed off shortly.
Crucially, Gordon wants to sign the new contract and rediscover his best form in a black and white shirt. He is yet to find the consistency of last season but there is a feeling inside the club that he is close to hitting the levels that won him elevation to the England squad in March. A new contract and reward for his progress would no doubt help.
Interest from Liverpool and Arsenal remains, but the 23-year-old is happy and settled on Tyneside and appreciates the improvement he has made under Eddie Howe.
Newcastle and Anthony Gordon are close to agreeing a new contract to extend the forward’s stay at the club
Discussions have accelerated and there has been significant progess in recent weeks
Yasir in Toon
Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan is scheduled to be at St James’ Park this weekend, Confidential can reveal.
The PIF governor held individual meetings with Howe and sporting director Paul Mitchell the last time he was on Tyneside at the start of the month.
Al-Rumayyan will watch Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off against Manchester City from the directors’ box, but there are sure to be conversations about the current situation inside the club.
Howe and Mitchell spoke for the first time in more than two-and-a-half weeks last Friday. Darren Eales had spoken to Howe earlier in the week as efforts are made to move on from a turbulent summer and post transfer-window period, in which the head coach and sporting director only communicated through the media.
That is not a healthy situation for any club, but insiders hope that an understanding can now be forged as Howe and Mitchell prepare for January and the need to improve key areas of the team.
Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan is scheduled to be at St James’ Park this weekend
The PIF governor held individual meetings with Eddie Howe and sporting director Paul Mitchell (pictured) the last time he was on Tyneside
Talent trawl continues
Confidential reported last month that Newcastle’s academy scouts were concentrating on finding UK-based players for the Under-15s and 16s.
Well, the past week has seen the arrival of another talented youngster in this bracket, Leon Mukumbira from Peterborough United. The Under-15s forward has already been earmarked for international recognition after attending an FA talent ID camp last year.
The scouting remit runs a lot deeper than teenagers, however, and it was interesting to see Newcastle’s talent spotters in attendance on Tyneside during the first weekend of the new Under-7s season earlier this month. That is the age at which children first play competitively as part of a team and can train with an academy.
Ed still keen on Ed?
On the subject of scouting, Newcastle’s recruitment team continue to watch Serie A side Atalanta.
Brazilian midfielder Ederson, who impressed as his side held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw in the Champions League last week, has long been of interest and is admired by Howe. While that area of the pitch is not currently a priority, it could become more pressing next summer were others in that department to move on.
The 25-year-old will have two years to run on his contract by then and a move to the Premier League has been mooted, with Liverpool and Manchester United also among those keeping tabs on the Brazil international.
Interestingly, Ederson operates in a position many supporters and observers have identified as an urgent need – a defensive midfielder to protect the back four.
Atalanta midfielder Ederson (right) has long been of interest to and admired by boss Howe
His area on the pitch is not seen as a priority, so a move could be more possible next summer
Toon teaser
It’s Toon Teaser time. Last week’s puzzler was… can you name can you name the EIGHTEEN players to have played for Newcastle and Fulham since 1992/93? The answers were; Philippe Albert, Peter Beardsley, Paul Bracewell, Dan Burn, Lee Clark, Andy Cole, Damien Duff, Alain Goma, Danny Guthrie, Aaron Hughes, Shefki Kuqi, Kevin Mbabu, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Alan Neilson, Scott Park, Wayne Routledge, Louis Saha and Matt Targett.
This week’s puzzler (and this theme is proving popular)… can you name the FIFTEEN players to have played for Newcastle and Manchester City since 1992/93?
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