Newcastle United are keen to add a new CEO and technical director to their hierarchy in the coming months but another position that may yet be considered is the role of global ambassador.
Big clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United have this position already in place and working extremely well with the Red Devils flying Bryan Robson around the world to promote the club and foundation and Kop idols Robbie Fowler and Ian Rush in place at Anfield. In all year round role, Robson is on hand at Old Trafford on match days to look after dignitaries of other clubs and important corporate guests.
On tours around the globe Robson, the ex-England skipper takes the pressure off the players, head coach and the owners by facing up to media duties while promoting the club, meeting fans and attending events. Then there are community training sessions with kids which former Premier League boss Robson enjoys significantly with his days in the dugout behind him.
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As Newcastle get used to life flying around the world under new ownership, with trips to Saudi Arabia and Dubai, already behind them it was noticeable that such a figure wasn't on board their private jet. Of course, this is still early days at Newcastle the main priority on Tyneside has been Premier League survival.
United have already touched base with a host of former players, with some of them frozen out during the Mike Ashley era. Since Amanda Staveley and the Middle East consortium took control of the club there have been discussions with big names like Alan Shearer and David Ginola.
Former players like Steve Watson, Lee Clark, Malcolm MacDonald, who Ashley banned for damning newspaper columns during his tenure, John Beresford and Bob Moncur have all spent time in the chairman's suite with their opinions taken on board by the new owners.
Ginola hinted this week that he'd be interested in a job at the club as he gave a brutal assessment of the 5-1 defeat at Spurs. Although Clark would be a good ambassadorial candidate to take up a role like Robson or Fowler at rival clubs. He is a recognisable figure from the Entertainers days, is already used to world travel after recently managing in the Middle East and has coaching and management experience in abundance for training youngsters at global community events, he is also a great talker and knows the club inside out.
With Newcastle expected to be going place, quite literally, in the years to come, a strong travelling contingent will be needed and a look at other big clubs in this department offers a hint at what is deemed an important role.
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