Simon Jordan (left) has responded to David Hopkinson's comments earlier this week.placeholder image
Simon Jordan (left) has responded to David Hopkinson's comments earlier this week. | talkSPORT, Newcastle United
Newcastle United owner David Hopkinson doubled down on the club’s bold 2030 vision earlier this week.
Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has told David Hopkinson that he is “unlikely” to achieve his 2030 vision at Newcastle United.
The new Toon CEO bullishly doubled down on claims that the Magpies can become a global powerhouse by the end of the decade. With Newcastle sitting 11th in the Premier League and struggling to sign players due to PSR restrictions, fans themselves have questioned whether that goal is unrealistic.
Financial measures have been the thorn in Newcastle’s side since the Saudi-backed takeover in October 2021. That frustration reared its head again last month when, with an injury-stricked Toon squad unable to add to their ranks.
What David Hopkinson said about 2030 vision
Speaking earlier this week, Newcastle chief Hopkinson reiterated his plan to propel the club into the elite bracket. He said: “The No.1 thing I talk to the ownership about is ambition. That’s the magic word here. We have total alignment on that.
“This is a club that, by 2030, will be consistently contending for the top prizes in global football. We have a lot of wood to chop between here and there. When I see Newcastle United, everywhere I look, I see opportunity.”
Simon Jordan responds to bold Newcastle United plan
Responding on talkSPORT, ex-Palace owner Jordan insisted Newcastle cannot achieve their goals due to the disparity in revenue. He said: “It's an ambitious vision that's unlikely to be reached. I don't think you should have anything wrong with setting out your best stall, your best in class mentality, operating at the highest level, making sure your commercial department is on it, across it and at it, making sure your recruitment department buys the best players.
“But then you've got to ask the question, when Man City want to go and buy a player in our window and buy the best player, the best winger, the best centre-back, how are you going to get them there? Because A, you can't compete with them on wages. B, you can't compete with them on transfer fees. And C, you can't compete with them on legacy because they've won things. So how do you bridge that gap? I'm not wanting to be negative.
“The only way is to whack up your turnover or change the rules. And if you don't build new stadiums and if you don't show the commitment, because the one thing the Saudis can do is back up all the purported ambition by building a new stadium.”
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Simon Jordan on St James' Park future
Jordan also gave Newcastle an easy path to bridge the gap - a new state-of-the-art stadium. He added: “If you built a new stadium that was 75,000 (capacity), you'd be able to generate a whole new raft of opportunities. All of a sudden, that would be a £100million injection (per year) into the football club. Then you're starting to catapult yourself into the region of being able to touch these other guys that are there.
“This is not London where you can't get planning permission for anything. In Newcastle and parts of the world like that, they can't help you fast enough. They're looking for areas that they can increase new revenue. Look no further than the stadium.”
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