Yasir Al-Rumayyan has barely been seen at Newcastle games this season
Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan (left) and Sunderland chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus
Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan (left) and Sunderland chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus
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Among the various figures swilling around the tunnel area at St James' Park on Sunday were two multi-millionaires, casually dressed and full of smiles as they soaked in the atmosphere.
Sunderland owners Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Juan Sartori's presence at the ground was noticeable. Both before and after the final whistle, the duo mingled with players, interacted with fans and ensured everyone knew just what the game meant to their club.
Sartori, co-owner for almost a decade after first getting involved with the double act of Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven, was once a mistrusted figure among parts of Wearside. On Sunday, however, he travelled on the team coach to the ground alongside majority owner Louis-Dreyfus and was spotted pitchside as both men took in the atmosphere.
They were right bang among it after the game too. Admittedly, it's easier to connect with fans when you've completed a double over your closest rivals in their own backyard, but it was striking to see them interacting with fans on the concourse at St James’ Park.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus co-owner Sunderland during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Sunderland
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This was a huge game for Sunderland - as it was for Newcastle - and their presence underlined the significance of the occasion. What it also highlighted was a growing connection between Sunderland supporters and the ownership group. Louis-Dreyfus and Sartori are regular attendees at games - particularly big, important matches - and the latter took to social media after the game with another message of support and delight that Black Cats fans lapped up.
Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, meanwhile, hasn't been seen at a Newcastle game since the 1-1 draw against Paris St-Germain back in January. The only other game he's been spotted at this season was the home match against Liverpool in August.
There's context, of course. PIF have never wanted to be hands on with the running of United. They have so many other interests and Al-Rumayyan is on the board of so many other projects that it would be impossible and inconceivable for him to attend games regularly.
But that was where Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi came in. As part of the original ownership group they were hugely visible all over Tyneside, not just matchdays, and connected with the fanbase like few owners have done previously. Their removal from the board has left an enormous gap.
Jamie Reuben remains as a co-owner alongside PIF but his visibility both at games and on social media has dipped. A repost of Will Osula's winner against Man United is pretty much it on X in the last couple of months.
Newcastle need leadership in the next few weeks, both on the pitch and at boardroom level. The fanbase feels fractured and Eddie Howe's position, along with summer recruitment plans and wider issues like the stadium, needs clarity.
The ownership group at Newcastle have entrusted the day-to-day running to David Hopkinson, supported by the likes of Ross Wilson and others. There's nothing to suggest that the issues of last summer, when the club was left without a CEO or sporting director will repeat itself, although the departure of several executives - most noticeably Peter Silverstone - will be addressed.
The club is at a crossroads, football-wise and financially. The situation around a new stadium appears to have ground to a halt (pun intended). Training facilities have been upgraded but there is still no word on the proposed new Woolsington base, while the lack of real commercial improvement and big sponsorship deals is worrying some fans.
Stagnation off the pitch will only lead to stagnation on it. Mike Ashley proved that.
There won't be any grand public statements from PIF. That's not their style. Instead, they will continue to go about their business quietly behind the scenes. An appearance by Al-Rumayyan wouldn't go amiss, however, just to calm some nerves and show PIF are still fully behind this project.