Keith Wyness 'amazed' by how 'PIF are treating Newcastle'
PIF's reluctance to try to find a way to have their own companies sponsor Newcastle United is hugely surprising.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who is "amazed" that the Magpies' owners haven't tried to find ways of bypassing the Premier League's rules against Related Party Transactions.
This comes after chairman Yasir Al Rumayyan was spotted on the pitch after last weekend's World Cup Final, a competition that was closely tied to his Aramco oil company.
Wyness made his surprise clear over the fact that PIF haven't tried to use their direct investment to negotiate sponsorship deals for Newcastle.
The Tynesiders were one of several top-flight clubs who experienced major issues agreeing a front-of-shirt sponsor earlier this summer, before they recently agreed a deal with Knox Hydration.
Wyness has been hugely critical of the way that PIF have operated in terms of sponsorships and partnerships with the club, and feels that they could utilise their own empire far more.
PIF locked in 'weird' situation at Newcastle
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that PIF are currently locked in a "weird" situation at St James' Park.
He made it clear that the confusing stance on sponsorships, combined with the lack of progress on the club's long-term stadium plans, is creating clouds behind the scenes at the club.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained his confusion over Newcastle's sponsorship situation.
"It's certainly surprising that the PIF array of investments hasn't given up some sort of sponsorship by now," he said.
"While Aramco would be considered as coming under the associated party transactions, there still would have been a way around that in some way.
"It wasn't so strange to see Yasir on the pitch. It's quite common, as we've seen before, that a sponsor gets the chance to be around a trophy presentation.
"I've always been amazed that PIF have not been able to bring in some of their investments and arrange sponsorships for Newcastle. And it is strange that Aramco also haven't had a presence, even at normal market rates for Newcastle.
"It is surprising, and we haven't had that stadium announcement yet. It's just a weird situation right now in terms of the way that Newcastle are being treated by PIF."
Newcastle 'play right into Tottenham's hands' over Lucas Bergvall
Former Tottenham scout Mick Brown told Football Insider earlier this week that Newcastle and Nottingham Forest have "played right into Tottenham's hands' with their pursuit of Lucas Bergvall.
Both clubs have already seen offers rejected for the Swedish starlet, and Spurs are now set to demand in excess of £50million in an attempt to trigger a bidding war.
Brown has made it clear that the Lilywhites are in "full control" over the 20-year-old's future, as he is tied down to a "big contract" with them at the moment.
Bergvall has expressed his desire to leave North London this summer, but it could become increasingly difficult for clubs to sign him if his price is driven up.