(Credit: Getty)

Ciaran Morrison

Thu 30 April 2026 17:00, UK

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Newcastle United’s annual meeting will focus more on the club’s stadium plans than Eddie Howe’s future, according to Keith Wyness.

The former Everton chief executive, speaking to Football Insider, reveals plenty of questions that the owners will want answers to.

Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and minority owner Jamie Reuben are both set to be in attendance at the event.

Newcastle have long been in deliberation over whether to build a new stadium at Leazes Park, or redevelop St James’ Park, whilst a new training ground has also been on the agenda.

The ownership have been criticised for their delayed decision-making, with Newcastle’s revenue behind many of the top Premier League clubs which the Magpies want to compete with.

Newcastle United need to begin backing up long-term ambitions

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 Newcastle’s ownership will want to see a clear strategy for the club going forward.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness states that the owners may also have questions to answer over sponsorship and revenue.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Big issues around the stadium, which is now a year, probably a year and a half, later than we expected a decision on.

“What’s happening with the training ground? How are they going to bring new revenue streams in? Are they going to be able to help find sponsors and create that revenue stream?

“How are they going to back up David Hopkinson’s grand statements about becoming one of the top clubs in the world? All those things aren’t necessarily easy to put together. So it’s going to be a pretty serious inquest and some big questions are going to be asked.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily about whether Eddie Howe is going to be fired or not? But the owners want to know what is going to go on going forward. The fans want to know, but the owners really want to know.”

Newcastle set for £100m investment

Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson told Football Insider that £100million could be invested into Newcastle’s new training ground.

Borson claims it is easier for Newcastle’s owners to deliver a new training ground, than any stadium project, in a move which could help attract players to Tyneside.

Newcastle announced a new deal with KNOX Hydration earlier this month to sponsor its training ground, worth £6m a season.

Despite not using their Saudi connections, it was a sign that the owners remain committed to growing revenue at Newcastle, which they now appear to be backing up further.