Ex‑PL club chief: PIF would show ‘commitment’ with long‑delayed Newcastle plan

Newcastle United could announce that they will begin work on a new training ground at the end of the season.

That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, who thinks the move would be a “big step forward” for the club.

A new training ground has been on the agenda at Newcastle since the club was taken over by the PIF in 2021.

That is alongside either a redevelopment of St James’ Park or a new stadium, as Newcastle look to progress on and off the pitch under their Saudi owners.

It has though been a difficult season on Tyneside for Eddie Howe’s side, and the PIF have come under increasing scrutiny for their ownership of Newcastle amid fan frustrations.

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Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – thinks Newcastle’s owners need to be “much quicker” in their decision-making over plans like a new training ground in the future.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness though states that the PIF would be showing “big commitment” by pushing through with plans for a training ground.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It’s been a year or two now and there’s been no announcements about this.

“If it is coming, and I believe it will be, it may well happen at the end of the season. That would be a big, big step forward and a big part of commitment from PIF, and then everybody can see a way forward.

“But it isn’t just coming in and owning the asset, they’ve got to get actively involved and be much more nimble in the way that they support the executive team, because it takes a lot to take the club forward. I’d rather not see the committee sort of decision-making happening all the time, it takes forever.

“I’d rather see things happening much quicker with greater autonomy at executive level because that’s where PIF have made some mistakes over the last couple of years.”

A busy summer awaits Howe at Newcastle, with the manager set to have to make some big decisions in the transfer market.

The future of striker Will Osula could be up for discussion, and whether the 22-year-old could lead the line for Newcastle next season.

Sources have told Football Insider that Osula has no plans to leave Newcastle and wants to fight for his place in Howe’s starting line-up.

The Dane has enjoyed a spell in the team in recent weeks, scoring three goals in his last five starts, whilst big money signings Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa continue to be left on the bench.

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