Kieran Maguire: Premier League ruling has just handed Newcastle ‘big’ boost – ‘they’re delighted’
Newcastle United will be “delighted” that Roman Abramovich has been disqualified from running Chelsea.
So says finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the Premier League’s ruling against the Russian oligarch.
It was announced last Saturday (12 March) that the Vladimir Putin-linked billionaire is now barred from operating as a director in the top flight.
Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley has stated that she thinks it is “unfair” that Abramovich is being forced out, per BBC Sport on 3 March.
But Maguire claims that the Magpies will be privately over the moon that they have one less mega-rich rival to worry about.
“Trying to break into any closed shop is always a challenge,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“Chelsea’s finances going forward are unlikely to be underpinned to the same extent as they were under Abramovich.
“That is because American owners are more used to a franchise model and reaping the financial rewards themselves, which Abramovich didn’t.
“When you put those things together, it’s unlikely that a new owner is going to fund the same level of spending in the transfer market.
“It’ll be a big advantage for Newcastle as it may mean they have one less rival for those European spots in the future.
“So yes, on a competitive level, I’m sure they’re delighted, regardless of what Amanda Staveley has said about the situation.”
Newcastle became the richest club in the world after the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s £305million takeover in October last year.
They were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea at Stanford Bridge yesterday (13 March) thanks to a Kai Havertz strike.
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