Newcastle United to cash in on ‘massive’ overseas deal – Keith Wyness
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has insisted Newcastle United have a “massive” opportunity to showcase themselves to a global audience.
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 – revealed Premier League sides receive an “unreasonable” amount of attention when they go on overseas tours.
The Magpies have flown to Australia this week to play fellow top-flight side Tottenham in an end-of-season friendly at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 22 May.
Eddie Howe’s men will then play a second match against an A-League All Star side on 24 May before heading off for their summer break.
Newcastle presented with opportunity in Tottenham friendly
Wyness believes overseas tours can help clubs unlock opportunities to make themselves “invaluable” within the communities of the regions they are visiting.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “It’s very important to appeal to a global audience.
“I took Everton away to Thailand, where our sponsor Chang was located. But we also tried to make it into a mini tour for businesses from Merseyside to go with us to try and sell their products as well.
“There is a massive impact that this can make.
“Newcastle are playing Spurs in Australia. If that was tide into a trade mission at the same time, it can have a fantastic impact on the local community.
“When owners start thinking big and doing those calculations about what they can bring into the community, and help pioneer those sorts of initiatives, they become invaluable to the region.
“There is no reason why that can’t happen. The success of the Premier League does mean when a club comes there, they get unreasonable attention.
“If other businesses can get off their coat-tails and get new contracts as a result of that, then what a fantastic outcome for football.
“It’s also a great reason to see the government support the Premier League as much as possible in trying to get things right.”
In other news, Newcastle make moves to sign two free agents.
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