Former Newcastle United owner speaks out amid PIF takeover ‘commitment’ claim

In October 2021, Newcastle’s fortunes changed forever when the Public Investment Fund bought an 80 per cent stake, liberating the club from Mike Ashley. As the public face of the deal alongside wife Amanda Staveley, Ghodoussi also acquired a 10 per cent share.

That has since been absorbed by PIF and the Reuben brothers, with he and Staveley leaving in the summer. Ghodoussi remains an avid Toon fan and is regularly seen rooting for the team on social media.

The Iranian-born businessman tweeted “happy anniversary” to his 147,000 followers. Hundreds of Newcastle supporters thanked him for helping to broker the deal, with Jamie Reuben, still a sitting member of the board, responding with a love heart emoji.

The anniversary of the Saudi takeover came just days after Eddie Howe was questioned about PIF’s long-term commitment. When asked about their initial five-year plan to win the Premier League, he said: “Five years does seem short. Especially in my shoes! At the time I don’t think the statements were rash.

“There was a feeling the club at that stage really could invest what it wanted. There is no guarantee that even with that investment you will win things, we all know that. But it gives you a much better chance.

“Since then there has been a real tightening of the rules. So it is unfair to judge them by those comments with the changing of the rules.

“Now it has become, I wouldn’t say impossible, but it has become very very difficult to achieve what they initially thought they could achieve through no fault of their own.”