Amanda Staveley has admitted Newcastle’s post-season trip to Australia was “controversial” and said the decision was taken by “management”.
The co-owner has hinted that as a fan she had concerns over subjecting Eddie Howe’s squad to 48 hours of flying and two friendly games in the week after the season ended.
Newcastle beat Spurs on penalties then a largely junior team lost 8-0 to the A-League All Stars, but were paid up to £3m for taking part in the games.
Staveley spent last weekend in Monaco at the F1 Grand Prix, as the squad flew home from Oz.
On Monday (today) she issued a statement on Instagram saying she wanted to address “comments” about the trip. These included Kieran Trippier saying the gruelling jaunt was “not ideal”.
It was also criticised for the carbon footprint of flight. Staveley said: “The decision to go was taken by management and ultimately I have to support their decisions.
“Besides being a shareholder I am first and foremost a fan. As a fan I understand this trip was controversial. However personal issues aside, revenue generating trips are crucial to a club’s commercial success.
“Mehrded and I had a very productive working trip to Monaco with a potential sponsor and we are looking ahead to the new season. We Are United.”
She also said: “Nobody wants a fresh team more than me and we are doing everything we can to support our manager in achieving this.”
Newcastle have been planning to make a pre-season money making trip to Japan to play two games two weeks before the Premier League season kicks off in mid August.
It is believed Eddie Howe’s preference is to have training camp in Europe and that could be at the Adidas HQ in Germany in the third week of July.
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