Craig Bellamy has no doubt that Newcastle United are going to have success in the coming years after having the chance to speak to sporting director Dan Ashworth last summer.
Bellamy, who is now an assistant to Vincent Kompany at Burnley, was on the touchline when the Clarets faced his former side in a training game in Portugal back in July. Bellamy was not only struck by the talent of Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes et al that day but, also, the sheer numbers of staff on Newcastle's bench as the club's owners strengthen at all levels.
It will inevitably have brought back some memories for Bellamy of his time at Man City. Indeed, Bellamy offers a unique perspective on Newcastle's new era - not only as a key player when the Magpies were last challenging and playing in the Champions League but, also, as someone who joined City soon after the club's own transformative takeover in 2008.
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"Money always wins," he told the Central Club podcast. "It always wins and I believe this will if this is what it's going to be.
"They will get to where they need it to. It won't be as quick as ours because of Financial Fair Play. That really does come in and it will sustain. It will have to be a longer period than what Chelsea were able to do, what Man City in the early stages were able to do.
"We played them pre-season and I saw a difference straight away. I saw more support staff. Dan Ashworth, who I really like, is the director of football there. He went from Brighton. I spoke to him for a while and it's just a club that's going to go well. I'm actually glad someone did that for a club like Newcastle."
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