This summer promises to be a monumental one for Newcastle United - both on and off the pitch. Wholesale changes will be made in and around the club, many of which were seldom seen in the 14 years of Mike Ashley's reign on Tyneside.
The new ownership have made it their mission to make the football club a more respectable outfit since arriving last October, with easy wins getting fans onside from minute one.
Changes will continue on a grand scale before the 2022/23 campaign, with Newcastle keen to take advantage of the off-season by making much-needed improvements to facilities and infrastructure.
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Training ground plans have been well documented. The club continue to wait for the green light from the council to go ahead with their extension plans but with the project described as 'modest', there isn't expected to be any issues on that front.
Chronicle Live understands changes are already being carried out at the Darsley Park facility. Work has already started on new state-of-the-art pitches, with some staff working out of cabins in the short-term. Much has been made of the bat survey that must be conducted on site - but that issue is thought to be standard practice in renovations of this nature.
Speaking previously, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe stressed how keen he was to see a change at the training ground. It’s hugely important,” he said. “Your day-to-day environment is so important."
Supporters who have visited St. James' Park in recent weeks will have seen workmen in and around the vicinity of the stadium. Alan Shearer's statue has been moved to stadium land and the Sir Bobby Robson monument has been given a new lick of paint just a few metres away.
More work will be done inside the 52,000 seater venue in the coming weeks with Chronicle Live told 'more noticeable' changes will be observed by fans when they return later in the year.
More than just a lick of paint, the concourses will be improved to create a better matchday experience for supporters. After the renaming of 'Shearer's Bar', the neighbouring 'Terrace Bar' is also set for a revamp over the summer.
When it comes to matters on the pitch, the club were recently dealt a blow with the cancellation of their US tour. The Magpies were due to fly out to America in July for games in Cincinnati and Columbus but fixtures against Wolves, Valencia and Villarreal have now been shelved
Staff are working hard behind the scenes to reorganise the pre-season plans, with Howe keen to enjoy a stress free summer with his squad. The visits of Atalanta and Athletic Bilbao to St. James' Park later in the summer is a signal of intent when it comes to the level Howe wants to reach.
