Newcastle could get ‘significant’ cash influx after new PIF verdict – Keith Wyness
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed “significant money” could come into Newcastle if they capitalise on changes to Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – insisted the Magpies should strike more sponsorship deals with companies in the stable of their Saudi ownership.
Man City took legal action against the Premier League regarding the APT rules at an arbitration hearing in June, with two aspects of the regulations later deemed unlawful when the panel published its findings.
Top-flight clubs then approved key changes to the rules at a meeting in London on 22 November.
APT rules were put in place by the governing body to prevent clubs inflating sponsorship deals with owner-linked companies to boost revenue.
Newcastle have struggled to comply with Premier League financial rules since their Saudi-backed takeover in 2021 – and were forced to sell Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh in the off-season.
Wyness told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “The slight rollback of the rules could make a big difference for PIF, Newcastle’s owners.
“The area Newcastle seem to have been very lax on is regional sponsorships across the globe.
“There have been very few companies buying in and taking the rights in a specific part of the world, which is what Man United did very well under the Glazers.
“I’d have thought that with the stable of PIF investments, which are some of the biggest companies in the world, those connections would be called upon.
Newcastle must capitalise on Saudi links to free up more funds, says Wyness
“I also think there should be more work done in Saudi Arabia with Newcastle, with things like TV shows and outreach programmes.
“The new changes in the rules could allow some significant money to come back into the club.
“They’ve got to capitalise on it quickly and I hope that PIF’s connections can come to fruition now.
“If they do, Newcastle will be in a great position and Eddie Howe will have more flexibility to build his squad.”
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