Why visit of Newcastle's Saudi owners is being talked about

Why visit of Newcastle's Saudi owners is being talked aboutImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and fellow owner Jamie ReubenByCiaran KellyNewcastle United reporterPublished4 hours ago279 CommentsMatfen Hall is a little different to St James' Park.But it is here - away from prying eyes - where Newcastle United's owners and executives are convening this week to plot the club's future.The build-up to this latest summit has garnered plenty of attention, but senior figures have repeatedly stressed the annual get-together is not out of the norm.Previous high-level meetings took place at the same stately venue in Northumberland in February 2025, and this particular gathering has been in the diary for several months.It was always looked upon as an opportunity for those at the top to meet to discuss infrastructure projects and recruitment plans.This off-site has also been regarded as a timely occasion to talk about Newcastle's slide to 14th place in the Premier League, and how they will go about bouncing back.Rather than reacting emotionally, the view internally remains that Newcastle need to respond rationally with the help of cold, thorough analysis.So what could be on the agenda?Howe welcomes 'harder' meetingHead coach Eddie Howe is among those leading figures who will give his perspective, as was always planned.Howe's future has come under increased scrutiny following a bruising run of nine defeats in 12 games in the league.He has said this year's summit will be "slightly harder", but stressed he is looking forward to a rare opportunity to address chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and minority owner Jamie Reuben in person."I'm sure there will be conversations on the team and how we have performed," he said. "I sort of welcome that to a degree."Newcastle's owners certainly need no reminding of Howe's body of work after appointing him in 2021.Howe took charge of a winless side deep in relegation trouble, but went on to end Newcastle's 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy by lifting the Carabao Cup last season. They also qualified for the Champions League in 2023 and 2025.However, this campaign has been his most testing yet, which is saying something. Only relegated Burnley and Wolves have lost more Premier League games than Newcastle's 16.Howe's ability to outperform clubs with bigger wage bills has been a trademark for much of this time at Newcastle, but his side find themselves below Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Everton, Fulham, Brentford, Bournemouth and Brighton in the table with four games to go.There is some mitigation.Newcastle have played 54 matches in all competitions, which is uncharted territory for the group, who reached the last 16 of the Champions League and a third League Cup semi-final in four years.This drained side have been knocked back by injuries to influential players like captain Bruno Guimaraes at key moments.Newcastle are also still feeling the effects of a turbulent transfer window last summer.David Hopkinson and Ross Wilson have since arrived, but the club operated without a chief executive and sporting director during a pivotal trading period.Newcastle missed out on a host of top transfer targets, including Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko and James Trafford, and have seen little return from a £100m-plus net recruitment drive that Howe was heavily involved in.Finally, having decided to hold firm for so long, Newcastle ultimately buckled and sold Alexander Isak on…

This excerpt is published under fair use for community discussion. Read the full article at BBC Sport.