Former Newcastle United co-owner Mehrdad Ghodoussi has discussed his role with the Magpies.
Mehrdad Ghodoussi has given an insight into some of the challenges he and Amanda Staveley faced after they played a part in the PIF-led takeover of Newcastle United.
The PCP Capital Partners group formed a consortium along with the Reuben Brothers and PIF that finally brought an end to Mike Ashley’s 14-year ownership of the Magpies after long-running discussions came to a successful end during the autumn of 2021. The new look ownership group quickly set about the task of reviving the fortunes at St James Park with the appointment of manager Eddie Howe and an ambitious first transfer window that saw the likes of Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes arrive on Tyneside.
Mehrdad Ghodoussi, co-owner of Newcastle United, applauds the fans following the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion at St. James Park on May 11, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)placeholder image
Mehrdad Ghodoussi, co-owner of Newcastle United, applauds the fans following the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion at St. James Park on May 11, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After avoiding relegation from the Premier League, Howe guided the Magpies into the Champions League and to their first major domestic cup final since 1999 during his first season in charge before repeating that trick two years later during a memorable campaign that saw the end of United’s 70-year wait for major domestic silverware. However, Ghodoussi and Staveley had left their roles within the Magpies hierarchy nine months before Howe and his players celebrated their Carabao Cup final win against Liverpool on the hallowed Wembley turf after selling their shares to the Reuben family.
The new caused some surprise amongst Magpies supporters after the couple had played such an influential role in the takeover three years earlier and had become the public face of the ownership group. Staveley has been linked with potential roles at Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United in recent months - and Ghodoussi has given an insight into their view on investing in a club and appeared to hint they had to take a lead role at Newcastle as ‘things wouldn’t happen’ if they did not.
‘You have to make the right decisions’
Premier League CEO Richard Masters alongside Newcastle United's former co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi. The Premier League's PSR constraints continue to hamper Newcastle's spending power.placeholder image
Premier League CEO Richard Masters alongside Newcastle United's former co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi. The Premier League's PSR constraints continue to hamper Newcastle's spending power. | Getty Images
Speaking at a TransferRoom Leaders event at Stamford Bridge, he said: “Breaking even is very, very difficult, that’s the reality of football. But yes, the curve is going up and the rationale for us was to buy something well and we bought it very well, invest well and then hopefully get it to a much higher valuation. That process was very difficult. The curve is not rising that much. You can see broadcasting rights are flattening out now, domestically anyway. Internationally, they are growing. It’s a lot harder than before. There’s the scarcity asset of these Premier League football clubs - but ultimately, you have got to get on the ground and you have to really make the right decisions.
“Executives are critical, the right executives are critical and trust me, I’ve come across some really bad ones because it is a merry-go-round system and they jump around. You’ve got to have the right executives in place and as owners, we had to be on top of everything, we really did. It came to simple things like who can negotiate a contact or trying to buy a player from another football club. We really go into the weeds because we just felt like without us being on top of that, things wouldn’t happen.”