What's changed since Newcastle takeover?

""I remember walking around the training ground when we came up that first time," said the Newcastle United head coach last week. "It was" Howe was not suddenly getting misty-eyed, but reflecting on the work that was needed to improve the club's tired Benton base following his appointment nearly four years ago. Newcastle had not long been taken over by a Saudi-led consortium in a 305m deal which was opposed by human rights campaigners."

""When I first arrived, I would talk about Eddie Howe and Bournemouth," said the 36-year-old winger, who played for Newcastle between 2016 and 2024 and now at Reading. "The lads would say, 'come on, drop it, he can't have been that good'. But I'd tell them there was no stone left unturned. "I was so pleased that they got to sample it. Until you actually see it and feel it, you don't truly believe you have never worked like that before."

Eddie Howe led a transformation of Newcastle United's facilities and playing culture after a Saudi-led takeover left the club wealthy but underprepared. The Benton training base was described as significantly below Premier League standards and has since gained hydrotherapy and plunge pools, a new canteen, players' lounge, and larger dressing rooms. The team improved through detailed preparation, attention to detail, and desire to improve, combined with added transfer firepower. Former player Matt Ritchie recalled the exhaustive methods and preparation, saying that experiencing the environment made players appreciate the new standards and intensity of work.

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