NEWCASTLE UNITED chairman Yasir al-Rumayyan has stated that the club’s long-term ambition is to be “number one” in the Premier League – and feels qualification for the Champions League will be hugely beneficial as the Magpies’ owners look to ramp up their investment in the future.
Al-Rumayyan is the head of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) which is the majority owner of Newcastle, and has been the public face of the club’s Middle Eastern ownership group, attending matches at St James’ Park alongside co-owners Amanda Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie Reuben.
Having taken over a club that was battling against relegation in the bottom half of the Premier League, the Magpies chief now finds himself presiding over one that is preparing to return to the Champions League after a 20-year absence.
Al-Rumayyan insists he was always confident Newcastle would return to Europe’s elite competition on his watch, but he is also adamant that he does not want their progress to end there.
“I am quite happy with the results,” said al-Rumayyan, who was speaking in a club interview broadcast on Newcastle United’s officials media channels. “We finished in the top four, our revenue is increasing.
“You have to work within the Financial Fair Play regime and framework, so the more revenue we will have, the more players we will have ready. And when I say players, I mean all 11 positions and the whole squad, the 25.
“The Champions League will add more revenue for us. The sponsorship is improving, and that means more funds and revenue for us. If you put all of these together, I think we should have an ambition and an inspiration to be number one.”
Getting anywhere close to the top four looked unlikely when the PIF took control of Newcastle in the autumn of 2021, but after avoiding relegation in their first season under the stewardship of Eddie Howe, the Magpies kicked on again last term, eventually finishing in fourth.
“It’s a great achievement,” said al-Rumayyan. “Did we expect to do that? Yes. I mean, we have the ingredients for success. We have a club that is the only one in a city, Newcastle. I would say that most of the people that are from Newcastle or reside in Newcastle, they are all fans of Newcastle.
“We want to achieve the best positions that we can. You have the right people, and when I say the right people, I mean the management, the technical director, the manager, and we have the right players.
“The players are one of the most important components. And to top it all, we have a great fanbase. If you have the right people and the right processes and funds, then if you put all of these things together it is a great recipe for success and that is what we are achieving right now.”