Newcastle United are in advanced talks to appoint David Hopkinson as their next chief executive, according to the Daily Mail.
The 54-year-old Canadian is viewed as the frontrunner to replace Darren Eales, who will step down due to health reasons, ahead of next season.
Hopkinson has already been interviewed by Newcastle’s ownership group, the report reveals, with PIF governor and club chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan expected to make a final decision soon.
Sources cited in the report stressed the urgency within Newcastle for a quick appointment as the club enters a critical summer in which they are expected, once and for all, to pull off a big set of transfer operations.
Hopkinson’s resume includes senior roles with Real Madrid, Madison Square Garden Sports Corporation, and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. He was previously Madrid’s global head of partnerships and later led business operations at MSG Sports, overseeing the Knicks and Rangers.
The staffer’s experience also extends to venue management, which could align with Newcastle’s plans to move from St James’ Park to a new stadium in Leazes Park, pending an official announcement.
“Previously at Real Madrid, I led global partnerships for the world’s most valuable football club, engaging with a 1B+ global fanbase,” Hopkinson said, as quoted in the original report. “At MSG Sports, I directed comprehensive business strategy across legendary venues including Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and the revolutionary Sphere in Las Vegas.”
Newcastle would have also begun the process of hiring a new sporting director after the announced departure of Paul Mitchell at the end of June.
That process will again rely on the recruitment firm Nolan Partners, who previously led the search that brought Dan Ashworth to the club in 2022, which is perhaps more bad news than good.