Newcastle board’s ‘strange’ move as Man United’s £15m FFP win hints at ‘controversial’ dilemma

Newcastle board’s ‘strange’ move as Man United’s £15m FFP win hints at ‘controversial’ dilemma

Newcastle United’s post-season trip to Australia appeared ‘very strange’ – but the Magpies have a huge commercial gap to bridge on clubs like Manchester United.

That is the view of football finance expert Kieran Maguire after Newcastle travelled 10,500 miles to play Spurs and the A-League All Stars Down Under last week. The players and coaching staff immediately flew out to Melbourne following the black-and-whites’ final Premier League game of what had already been a draining campaign.

Kieran Trippier said the trip was ‘not ideal’ in a tournament year while Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou made it clear that he ‘certainly wouldn’t have allowed it to happen’ if his side had played in Europe like Newcastle did. Eddie Howe admitted that the journey was something he had ‘never experienced before’ and the Newcastle boss added that he ‘would not necessarily want to do it again, especially playing a game so quickly after landing’.

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Amanda Staveley recognised the tour was ‘controversial’, and made it clear the decision was taken by management, but the part-owner stressed that ‘revenue-generating trips were crucial to the club’s commercial success’ as Maguire explained.

“It does seem a very strange approach to make,” he told the Price of Football. “Admittedly, fair play to Newcastle. They put out the kids for their second match and I’m not sure if it’s actually beneficial for the kids to get stuffed 8-0.

“How that’s going to improve their development is a separate issue but if we look at it through the financial lens, I go here to the accounts of Manchester United, who are a huge brand with a global fanbase.

“They used to say when they had a little bit more detail in their accounts that they could make up to £15m a year from the pre-season tours. Because they’re Manchester United, they’re able to get a guaranteed fee because it’s like the Harlem Globetotters when they came to Wembley once a year and sold out Wembley Arena.

“There will be a fee and I’d imagine Newcastle and Spurs, because this has been marketed as Ange’s homecoming, it was a sell-out. The clubs will be getting at least £1m in terms of an agreed fee.

“Then there is the opportunity as far as the club is concerned to do a little bit of commercial work. Can we sign up with an Australian mobile phone company? Can we do this, that and the other? The players are there so they can pop along next to the product and sign off on the deal.

“It’s great from an engagement with fans point of view and we have to acknowledge that the Premier League is global, but you get an extra £3.5m for one more position higher in the Premier League. I suspect the amount of money that both sides will have earned will be less than that.”

View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-boards-strange-move-man-29249481

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