Former CEO ‘amazed’ at confirmed Newcastle incoming – ‘it will haunt them’
Newcastle United have confirmed their new Chief Executive and it has left a former Premier League CEO worried about their future.
Eddie Howe’s side had an underwhelming transfer window, in which they missed out on several key targets, and many have blamed it on the fact that they were missing a sporting director and CEO.
The Magpies have been searching for a new chief since last September, when Darren Eales announced he was stepping down due to medical reasons.
Last week (4 September), Newcastle finally confirmed that David Hopkinson would be replacing Eales as the club’s new CEO.
However, 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 – believes it is a decision that will come back to haunt them.
David Hopkinson has no CEO experience
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness revealed that he is “amazed” the PIF have appointed someone with no prior experience of being a CEO.
Hopkinson has spent time at Real Madrid as their commercial director, but has spent little to no time involved in the football side of things.
Wyness added he doesn’t think it is the correct decision as Newcastle needed someone who can meld the football and commercial sides together.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “PIF have been process driven and that has led to delays on lots of things.
“I’m amazed with this appointment, because he seems to be basically a commercial guy. He’s never been the CEO of a football club.
“He’s there to really talk about the commerciality and potentially the new stadium when it’s officially announced. But they already have a very capable commercial director and they do need a CEO. They need somebody to cover both sides of things and meld them together.
“PIF do need to take a step back at some stage and not be so process driven. They need a strong chief executive in there and I don’t think he’s the right guy for this position. I really don’t.
“There still isn’t a sporting director in place yet, and how can Hopkinson judge a sporting director? I’ve got no idea. So again it seems to be that PIF have got their own ideas about how to run a football club.
“I’ve seen it so many times. It’s going to come back to haunt them, and they’ll go back to what I’m suggesting, of having a strong chief executive. They should be stepping back, setting the goals and supporting the chief executive, but letting him get on with the day-to-day business.”
Newcastle face Man City interest in star defender
Meanwhile, Manchester City are reportedly preparing to step up their pursuit of Newcastle star Tino Livramento after missing out during the summer transfer window.
That is according to former Man United and Sunderland chief scout Mick Brown, who claims that the 22-year-old is near the top of City’s list of transfer targets.
Pep Guardiola is set to prioritise the addition of a new right-back after Kyle Walker‘s move to Burnley, which has left them short of options in his position.
However, Newcastle remain extremely reluctant to lose Livramento given his crucial role in Howe’s plans for the upcoming season.
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