Jordan shut down and Champions League tears - Amanda Staveley's best Newcastle United quotes

Amanda Staveley's time at Newcastle United is heading to a end with the news that she and husband Mehdrad Ghodoussi are leaving the club.

Three years on from their brokering of the Saudi-backed £305m takeover of the club that ended Mike Ashley's control of the club after 14 arduous years, the pair will sell their six per cent share in United.

Playing an instrumental role in the day-to-day running of the club since, Staveley's love for the city and the Magpies in particular has been on public record for much longer than their official association's 2021 start date. From getting the deal over the line to recruiting a new manager then investing in the team, backing the women's side and returning the club's Champions League status, she has lived and breathed Newcastle in all walks of life.

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Preparations have evidently been made for this eventuality, with Darren Eales recruited as chief executive officer whilst Dan Ashworth first fulfilled the sporting director role. Following his exit Paul Mitchell has recently joined.

Ultimately the Ripon financier will be missed and appreciated for all she has done on Tyneside, so Chronicle Live have surfed the archives to find Staveley's most memorable moments throughout her time at the club:

Simon Jordan shut down as takeover hung in the balance

Providing response to the highly-controversial PIF-backed takeover in 2021, Staveley made an appearance on talkSPORT's live radio show. Here she was met by Simon Jordan, who had his back up over the advancing situation.

The ex-Crystal Palace chairman said she was 'barking at the moon' with her calls for the Premier League to publicise what were deemed contentious aspects of the takeover deal, whilst calling the fanbase gullible for backing the movement.

Staveley, as calm as ever, responded: "Simon I think actually you are wrong. I tell you why. You say we have had 28 years and we are barking at the moon, football has changed dramatically in the last two years because of Covid.

"I know you aren't pro for our deal and I'm not going to get in a spat on talkSPORT. Have your opinions and that's fine. You have never met me and don't know who I am. You have never looked at our business plan.

"The Premier League have the right to vote on this and we might do. The PL is run by a board and can make decisions on how this is run. Arbitration is a particular point of a particular point of law. It is not something typical of what has gone on for sports arbitration in the last year.

"The government have asked and said that this process should be transparent - they are supportive of it. The Premier League offered arbitration, they didn't ask all the other clubs if it was ok. They have the ability to go out and do this. And saying the fanbase is gullible is absolutely ridiculous."

There wasn't much in terms of a response to that...

The natural response to a completed takeover

You have just completed a lucrative £305m takeover of one of the Premier League's most storied clubs - a plan that has been in place for well over four years at this point. What is the first thing you do?

“[I am] enjoying my first drink! It’s been incredible," Staveley exclusively told Chronicle Live once the takeover was announced.

"Getting the opportunity to meet and talk to the Chronicle but speaking to the fans and meeting them has been the best part. It's all about the fans and we are so honoured to be custodians of this incredible football club. We're very proud, PIF are very proud to be looking after this club and we hope we'll make you proud."

Drawing up a business plan

With the arrival of new ownership with billions in the pocket to fund a rebuild of Newcastle, supporters were drooling over the prospect of signings in that first January transfer window. Everyone was dying to know Staveley's plan, so she was asked what to expect.

"We're going to invest, heavily, obviously," she candidly responded. Simple, yet effective.

She explained that this would be across the club's departments and infrastructure, not just the men's team. Of course big money was splashed on Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Chris Wood.

A match made in heaven

As mentioned, Staveley had been working on her takeover and how to achieve it for many, many years before it was actually finalised.

Speaking at a foundation event months into her tenure, she announced: "We came here four years ago and we fell madly in love with this incredible place."

Howe to get the job done

A highly-anticipated managerial change eventually saw Eddie Howe installed at the helm of the first-team. The former Bournemouth manager arrived with plenty of top-flight firefighting experience, and his new employer was vocal about the situation he was walking into.

"We had to have someone leading the club that was not frightened of relegation. I remember Eddie and I talking about this at the weekend at the Brighton match. He's going back into a position he sat in before so it's not one we've sat in," Staveley explained.

"We felt we took a risk because we knew the club was sitting in 19th position at the time. Eddie took that risk with us knowing that there is always a chance of relegation. I think he's going to do just the most incredible job - and the team. We've got a fabulous squad of players that I've become very fond of in a very quick amount of time. I know that they're going to work really well with him."

'Incredible' is perhaps an understatement, given what has been achieved in the relatively short period since.

The Women's team dream

Staveley has been a strong advocate of using the finances available across the board.

In her pitch the Ripon financier explained: "We have to put our young teams, our under-23s, in our stadiums about twice a year and the idea is to give them a chance. I said, 'Actually, I'd like the women's team to get the same opportunity. Why can't we make it part of the new rules to say let's have our women's playing in the main pitch?'"

Her love for women's sport has seen the Magpies' Women's side turn from semi-professional to professional. Next season they will also compete in the Championship (WSL 2) - two years on from being a fourth tier team. Staveley's ambition eventually came to life when watching her team play and win 6-1 at St. James' Park.

"I’m passionate to get the women's football really moved back into the heart of the club," she said prior to kick-off. "We really appreciate the emotional support, and of course, the investment, in the women's team by the new owners and while it was something we were always aspiring towards, we probably didn't expect this type of opportunity to arise just yet."

Enjoying the celebrations, she danced with the joyous squad in changing rooms.

We'll win the lot!

The natural reaction to losing a cup final is to sit in silence, downtrodden. For Newcastle this kind of trip home from Wembley Stadium hasn't admittedly been all too common over the years, so there was a strong element of achievement in reaching the Carabao Cup showpiece in Howe's first full season in charge.

Staveley encapsulated this fighting attitude, claiming: "I was just so proud of all of the fans, everybody, and I was crying and my son was crying, we were all crying. What was amazing at two-nil down, flags going, there was a passion in everybody. Everybody has taken us on this journey.

"We will win the Carabao Cup, we will win the FA Cup, we will the Champions League and we will win the Premier League. This is all about the amazing fans that have taken us on this journey, and we're just honoured and humbled and feel very privileged to help run Newcastle United."

Champions League football returns

And finally, the biggest achievement under Staveley's joint-ownership of Newcastle. In May 2023, fourth place in the Premier League was confirmed and along with it was the club's return to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.

Staveley didn't have to say anything on this matter as instead actions speak louder than words. She was seen joining in the team's lap of honour, embracing Eddie Howe in happy tears.