Newcastle United supremo Yasir Al-Rumayyan says he wants the club to be 'number one' as the Magpies continue to build - but he insists that they must adhere to the framework of FFP.
United are about to make a marquee signing in the shape of AC Milan star Sandro Tonali and can offer him Champions League football but the PIF chief stated that the board now 'expects' to play at Europe's top table. The Newcastle chairman - in his first in-depth interview - said building an entire squad of stars is on the agenda at St James' Park.
Al-Rumayyan, in an interview with NUFC TV, reflected on the season as a whole: "It's a great achievement to start with. So, did we expect to do that? Yes. I mean, we have the ingredients for success. You have a club that's the only one in a city.
"I would say people who reside in Newcastle are fans of Newcastle. We have the will and want to achieve the best positions we can.
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"We have the right people and when I say the right people, I mean the management, the technical director, the manager and the right players.
"Because remember the players are one of the most important components. And to top it all we have a great fanbase. If you have the right people and the right will, and then you have the right processes and funds, if you put it all together it's a great recipe for success. That's what we are achieving right now."
Speaking about playing in the Champions League regularly, Al-Rumayyan added: "It's a huge priority of course. But remember when we were 19th, and in the relegation box we still had the fans coming in and they were not so happy, right?
"Now the difference, at least, we have most of the times happy fans. Seeing what the players are doing and what the club is doing, which is really quite intriguing, is a big turnaround from being in the relegation box and this season is magic all over again, right?
"And this magic is coming from different components. The players, Eddie, and his team. The engagement from the board members, the engagement from the fans, all of these put together made us who we are today."
Achieving that 'number one' position will boil down to continuing to play in the Champions League. The United chairman said: "So I am quite happy with the results. How we finish in the top four, how our revenue is increasing, remember you have to work within financial fair play regime and framework.
"So the more revenue we will have the more players we will have ready. And when I say players I mean all 11 positions, and all 25 in the squad. Then the Champions League will add more revenue for us. The sponsorship is improving so that is more funds and revenue for us. If you put all of these together I think we should have an ambition and aspiration to be number one."
The moment the PIF chairman walked into St James' Park was also reflected on during an interview with the club's TV channel.
The Toon supremo added: "I remember the first moment I walked into St James' Park, it was one magical electrical moment for me. It's not the first time I have stepped into a football stadium.
"I have been to many other world sports, Superbowl and what have you. What I felt, and I am not saying it because I am the chairman, what I felt when I walked in, it's just magical."
His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, wanted to leave the final word with the supporters and said: "I would like to thank you all, the supporters, the fans, the community, from the bottom of my heart. "For all the support and feeling and welcome to participate from all of us.
"So really, thank you all, very, very, very much."
