Hopkinson is said to have sent a message to staff in the wake of Sunday's defeat at St James' Park
Newcastle United Chief Executive Officer David Hopkinson
View Image
Newcastle United CEO David Hopkinson sent a video message to the club's staff in an attempt to lift the mood after Sunday's derby defeat to Sunderland.
Hopkinson was in attendance at St James' Park as goals from Brian Brobbey and Chemsdine Talbi cancelled out Anthony Gordon's opener to condemn Eddie Howe's side to a second derby defeat of the season.
The result has heightened pressure on Howe's position as manager after an inconsistent season has left Newcastle in 12th place in the Premier League table with seven games remaining.
But the Magpies remain only four points adrift of seventh placed Brentford and there is still hope they can claw back that deficit to qualify for European football next season.
Get Chronicle Premium now for just £1HERE– exclusive news and features, our NUFC and Academy notebooks, John Gibson's columns plus an ad-lite experience
Chronicle Live understands Howe retains the club's backing and is expected to be given the opportunity to work with Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson for the first time in the summer transfer window.
And according to The Times, Newcastle’s staff are said to have received a video message from Hopkinson, in which he said: "There is no point in pretending it doesn’t hurt, it does."
He then went on to say the club is "building something very real here, a club that is consistently competing at the highest levels of sport. It hurts us because we care. It’s adversity, and adversity does not define us - it reveals us.
"There’s a great quote from Vince Lombardi [the legendary former American football coach]; it’s not whether or not you get knocked down, it’s how you get up.
"So we will have a tough day and then we’ll get up. We’re building something very real here. That journey is not a straight line.
"Yesterday feels heavy, and it is, but that’s OK, we won’t carry it for very long. Our enthusiasm and our conviction will remain undiminished."
Newcastle return to action against Crystal Palace on April 12 and all eyes will be on how they have responded to another derby disappointment when they make the trip to Selhurst Park.
Content Image
Content Image
Here at ChronicleLive, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Newcastle United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest NUFC news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.
And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Everything is Black and White podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.