This was in the Times on Saturday. Didn’t notice any reference to it in Caulkin’s latest Saudi PR piece, funnily enough:
An interesting update from The Times on Saturday regarding Nicky Hammond, whose temporary arrival at SJP was only revealed on December 17th:
It was Christmas Eve and Nicky Hammond’s brief work at Newcastle United was done. Hammond had picked up the reins at the world’s richest football club before the new Saudi owners’ first transfer window. He was expected to be the de facto chief executive, given the licence to launch a worldwide spending spree. Instead, his tenure was cut short.
From there, Newcastle’s recruitment team was whittled down to four — Amanda Staveley, who had led a four-year attempt to take over the club; Steve Nickson, the long-standing head of recruitment; Eddie Howe, the new head coach; and his No 2, Jason Tindall.
This had not been foreseen when Newcastle were taken over in October by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. It has meant that Howe has had far greater power over recruitment than had been expected when he was appointed in November.
explains why they’ve only managed to sign a couple of players through the Burnley old boy’s network. This lot are making Venkys Chicken look like geniuses so far.
