Since the takeover of Newcastle United by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, fans have been wondering what the club’s future infrastructure will look like. The owners are still weighing up different options, with the decision-making process dragging on due to the enormous costs involved.

St James’ Park or a new stadium?

According to George Caulkin of The Athletic, the club’s owner – the Public Investment Fund (PIF) – continues to consider two main options. The first is to redevelop the existing St James’ Park, while the second is to build an entirely new stadium in Leazes Park.

Chris Waugh reports that the matter was discussed in detail during a day away at Matfen Hall in Northumberland, attended by PIF chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan. While some senior figures communicated a preference for a new stadium — the final design of which has not yet been drawn up — the owners have been considering both possibilities since, Waugh said.

Although a modern stadium appears the most likely outcome, no decision has yet been made. As Waugh points out, the owners rarely take quick decisions, and the financial scale of both scenarios means discussions are taking longer than initially expected. However, the appointment of a new chief executive could speed up the process.

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Training ground upgrade as a temporary measure

At the same time, discussions are ongoing about the future of the training ground. The club has already submitted an application for expansion and upgrades of the current facility. This is seen as a short-term solution – in the longer run, Newcastle plan to create a brand-new, state-of-the-art training centre.

Waugh stresses that state-of-the-art new facility in the pipeline, though several years away. The search for a location has been narrowed down to a few sites, with the preferred space large enough to accommodate the men’s and women’s teams as well as the academy. It has not yet been decided whether all sections will be brought together in one complex.

When asked by a fan about the latest updates on the stadium and training ground, Waugh replied: The short answer is there are no definitive updates. However, that is not the same as there being no progress (of sorts).

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