AMANDA STAVELEY choked back tears upon hearing a touching fan message thanking her for what she did for Newcastle after her departure.
Staveley, 52, was instrumental in the Magpies’ takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in 2021 and she acquired a 10 per cent stake of the club along with her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi.
The business executive was seen as the face of the Toon during the club’s rise from Premier League relegation strugglers to Champions League challengers during her three-year stint at St James’ Park.
However, the former Newcastle director and Ghodoussi sold their stake last year to the PIF and the Reuben Brothers who bought five per cent each, with the Saudis now owning 85 per cent of the club.
The former club official has stayed true to her word after stating she would remain a fan “for life”.
And it showed in her recent appearance at the High Performance Podcast when host Jake Humphrey read her a message from a Newcastle fan page paying tribute to her contribution.
The message read: “We are grateful for the investment, for the progress on the pitch and finally being able to see our club compete again. But a football club is more than just a business.
“It is a community, it is a family. And families thrive on communication, warmth and understanding.
“Without Mandy leading the charge in that regard Newcastle United risks losing a vital connection with its soul – the loyal, passionate black-and-white army.
“For the club to rediscover its voice, to reconnect with its fans and to bring back some of that much-needed warmth that Amanda Staveley so brilliantly provided.”
Staveley was evidently touched as she could barely hold back her tears.
She replied: “That’s really hard. God, sorry.”
After catching her breath, Staveley revealed that the fan message shows exactly why she decided to invest in Newcastle.
She added: “That is really hard because that is really lovely and that is why I went into Newcastle because the fans are just so incredible and they really are.
“Leaving was the hardest thing I have ever done and took a long time to understand and do what is right for the club and PIF is going to be an incredible partner for Newcastle, and the Reubens.
“We left it in very safe hands. There are so many great people with great hearts who put so much into that club and into the community and in to everything about it.
“So for me it was a privilege. Every day I would go to work and think, ‘God, I am so lucky to do this job’.”
This comes after Staveley was linked with a takeover of Newcastle’s Premier league foes Tottenham.
However, her PCP International Finance consortium failed in a bid to buy Spurs after former chairman Daniel Levy’s departure last week.
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