Dr Dan Plumley

Mon 21 February 2022 19:00, UK

Legal issues at Newcastle United are “only going to increase” as the new ownership regime continues to be under the spotlight.

That is the view of finance guru Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about events behind the scenes at St James’ Park.

Newcastle posted a job advert on Linkedin last Tuesday (15 February) for a Legal Counsel to help navigate “commercial, legal and compliance issues”.

New rules around related party sponsorship were introduced in the immediate aftermath of the Newcastle takeover in October last year.

And Plumley forecasts that the Magpies’ legal issues will not be going away any time soon.

“This is one of those roles that are getting more common in football,” the Sheffield Hallam Universit expert told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.

“If it was 10 or 15 years ago, we wouldn’t be seeing as much. It is to do with the market at the time. The governance issues have shifted in the game.

“With fair market value and the ownership of the club under scrutiny, you need legal experts to sift through some of that.

“I’ve worked with sports lawyers and teach on a sports law programme. It’s interesting to hear them talk about how jobs in football have soared.

“So this job advert is with one eye on the future and also with one eye on the here and now.

“I’ll stick my neck out and say we’ll see more of these jobs come up in the future while there is an explosion in legal cases.

“There is a legal minefield to navigate for Newcastle and litigation around governance is only going to increase.”

Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley is currently embroiled in her own legal battle with former owner Mike Ashley.

Staveley is alleged to have violated the terms of a £10million loan used to finance her stake in the takeover.

In other news, Danny Mills issues “fabulous” Kieran Trippier claim after Newcastle United update in last 48 hours.