Newcastle United confirm major appointment amid Jamie Reuben links & St James' Park announcement

Roger Thornton, born in South Shields, has joined the club’s board of directors amid close links to Magpies’ co-owner Jamie Reuben.

Thornton has previously played a key role in recent developments in Newcastle city centre as well supporting property matters at Newcastle Racecourse, which is owned by Reuben.

His grandfather helped relaunch the Newcastle United Development Association in the mid-1960 and played a key role in supporting ground improvements at St. James' Park over many years.

A club statement read: “Newcastle United have appointed Roger Thornton to the club's Board of Directors.

“Born in South Shields, Roger is Head of Property at Motcomb Estates Limited, an asset management company that focuses on a portfolio of global office, retail, hotel and leisure assets for the family of Newcastle United co-owner, Jamie Reuben.

“Roger retains a keen interest in his native North East and has played a key role in recent developments in Newcastle city centre, including the transformative Pilgrims Quarter project, as well as supporting property matters for Newcastle Racecourse.

“He also has strong family links to the Magpies. His grandfather, Ben Sullivan, was an administrator who moved from Lincoln City to relaunch the Newcastle United Development Association in the mid-1960s.

“Ben played a key role in supporting ground improvements at St. James' Park over many years, including securing funding to build the existing East Stand structure which opened in 1973.”

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Newcastle chief operating officer Brad Miller delivered an update on the stadium feasibility study this week to members of the Fan Advisory Board.

As part of a presentation, the club outlined that the study has now entered a crucial second phase, with more detailed analysis currently taking place to investigate project-related risks and opportunities before a decision stage in early 2025.

It will either end in St James’ Park being re-developed or a new stadium being built elsewhere.

Miller said: "This is an exciting but extremely complex project, and I'd like to thank supporters for their patience as we conduct this key phase of the feasibility process. We aren't quite at a decision-making stage yet, but we are targeting the early part of 2025 to complete the next essential tasks.

"We know what a transformed St. James' Park would give us and we now have a significant amount of data and feedback on our stadium footprint and surrounding area, so we are several steps forward.

"But it is also clear that this option has several risks associated with it, so we need to fully analyse those risks against the opportunities to reach truly informed and intelligent outcomes.

"We are challenging our appointed design team, and ourselves, to make sure our eventual chosen route delivers a fantastic fan experience - one that represents the fans, city, region and club, and aligns with the long-term ambitions of our ownership group.

"But it must provide an investable return, and not least deliver strong revenue growth to increase our PSR headroom, which, as everyone knows, means we can invest more in football.

"Part of the process is also to understand alternative options so that we see the bigger picture and, again, find the right balance between risk and opportunity. This is a once-in-a-generation investment, so we don't want to look back in years to come, as a club or as a city, and regret an opportunity missed.

"Our objective is to select a scheme that is deliverable, affordable, and sustainable, so we are investing this time to make sure we are only going to spend money on the project where it will make the biggest difference - to fan experience, revenue, competitiveness, investment in football and operational efficiency.

"All this requires a robust process that leaves no stone unturned.”