Like any good politician Darren Eales picked his way through the minefield of questions on Newcastle United's intentions this summer as expertly as accountants juggling with figures bound for the balance sheet.
Bullish and engaging, Eales poured forth plenty of reassuring words without giving away any United secrets. Say a lot yet say nowt too eyebrow-raising. Good politics. Fair enough, as long as the summer sees the sun break out again. Deeds not words. The proof of the pudding and all that.
Plenty of reassurance was given on the surface by United's CEO but no inside gen to forearm opposition in the transfer market. Yes, United will spend as much as they are allowed in the transfer market, yes they will talk to Alexander Isak about a possible new contract, no they haven't any intention of selling their greatest assets, yes the Saudis are fully committed to the cause, and yes everyone behind the scenes is aligned. Discussions meanwhile continue on stadium and training ground.
At a time when the wheels appear to be in grave danger of falling off Newcastle's bandwagon with England stars Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall plus Sven Botman all out of the Wembley cup final, Eales strode into a minefield of confusion and depression with the sole intent of raising spirits.
Attention inevitably turned to the vexed question of the way the Magpies have handled the Profitability and Sustainability Rules. Or effectively not handled them, preferring to repeatedly sign not a soul and build up credit at the bank.
It could be perceived as shrewd - certainly necessary by those of power indoors - but a vast majority of fans believe United got their strategy fatefully wrong . . . keep what we've got in the dressing-room at all costs despite ageing stars and persistent injury problems even if it means there is then no wiggle room to buy. They all stayed - Wilson, Trippier, Schar, Dubravka, Targett, Longstaff, Lascelles. All getting older and their transfer value dramatically diminishing. It happened too with Almiron before he was at last released at reduced value.
Meanwhile no one came in to freshen up the squad while the likes of Anderson and Minteh had to be sold in desperation at the 11th hour to head off trouble with a financial deadline looming large. The wrong men went.
It must be said in the interests of fairness that Eddie Howe was a mainstay of United's policy not to sell senior players. He wanted to add to them but without selling that was impossible.
Stagnation strangles the life out of a dressing-room and beyond. It hits the hope of top players, provides no competition to keep everyone on the front foot, no cover for injuries, sickens fans, frustrates the manager. It is all right, indeed commendable, to beef up the academy by the signing of bright teenage talent but that is for tomorrow. In the meantime today was suffering.
Most onlookers have been irritated by an apparent lack of action and it has been heightened by a sudden shoal of bad results and bad luck which combined makes Wembley and the Carabao Cup final against the relentless red steamroller of Liverpool look an awesome, maybe impossible, task.
However, the past is the past and the landscape has significantly changed as Newcastle approach the summer transfer market. This will be the start of a new three-year cycle of financial figures which means the slate has been wiped clean after United ended each of the last two windows in profit.
As a matter of stressing reality Eales still pointed out that while you can front load any three-year cycle with signings, a club must eventually pay the piper. It is a tightrope and there are different ways of walking it. The obvious like Newcastle and the risky like Aston Villa buying and selling top stars.
If United manage to achieve all that United's chief executive has designated as their aim then an uplift in mood will be automatic. Of course at this stage they can only be words, not even promises, because we don't know what the circumstances will be at the dawn of the summer . . . will the best players come if United are not in Europe, will Isak want to new contract if that is the case for a second successive season, will United's financial muscle be restricted if there is no influx of money forthcoming from the Champions League?
What is certain is that everyone of black-and-white persuasion needs a massive injection of hope and excitement this close season. A project that took off like a rocket for the moon now looks as though it has run out of petrol.
The bottom line in a results driven business is that United need to take another significant step forward. Standing still is actually going backwards. It will soon be time for talk to be replaced by action. Only then will the masses be satisfied.