It has been a momentous year for supporters of Newcastle United as the departure of former owner Mike Ashley has heralded a return of ambition and drive to St James Park.
For the first time since the days of Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson, the St James Park faithful are dreaming of what could lie ahead under new ownership.
They were made to wait for it too!
For over two years, the PIF-led consortium were left frustrated by red tape and legal challenges before the deal was unexpectedly passed by the Premier League in October last year.
Now backed by one of the world’s most wealthy investment funds, and with the leadership of Amanda Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie Reuben, Newcastle look set for a return to the days when anything seemed possible and European football was a regular fixture on Tyneside.
After being Europe’s highest spenders in January, United will hope to add to the summer signings of Matt Targett, Nick Pope and Sven Botman before the window closes in the early hours of September.
Despite the lucrative takeover, the Magpies are still looking from the outside when it comes to the Deloitte Football Money League, with their £170.1m income leaving them in 28th place in the rankings.
That income is dwarfed by Premier League rivals Leeds United, Everton, Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool - and will show the new owners just how far they have to go behind the scenes.
Newcastle World takes a look at how the Magpies have performed over the last 25 years of the Deloitte Football Money League.
They were made to wait for it too!
5. 2001/02 - 13th
Under the expert guidance of Sir Bobby Robson, Newcastle ended the season in fourth place to secure a return to the Champions League and moved up one place in the rankings. Photo: Phil Cole
6. 2002/02 - 9th
Newcastle defied expectations to reach the second group stage of the Champions League and secured a return to European football’s premier competition with a third placed finish in the Premier League. That moved them into the top ten for the first time since 1997/98. Photo: Stu Forster
7. 2003/04 - 11th
Newcastle missed out on the Champions League after a penalty shoot-out defeat to Partizan Belgrade - but did reach the latter stages of the UEFA Cup before bowing out to Marseille in the semi-final. That saw the Magpies slide to 11th in the money league. Photo: Getty
8. 2004/05 - 11th
The end of an era as Sir Bobby Robson leaves Newcastle and is replaced by Graeme Souness. The Magpies reach the last four of the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup quarter-final to remain in 11th place in the Money League. Photo: Alex Livesey