Simon Jordan insists the Newcastle United takeover has been a success if not measured against the lofty ambitions set at the start of the process. However, he has cast doubt over how realistic David Hopkinson's aim of Newcastle consistently competing for the Premier League title by 2030 is.
Wednesday marked five years since a consortium consisting of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, the Reuben family and Amanda Staveley struck a deal with previous owner Mike Ashley to buy the club. In that time, Newcastle have gone from relegation fodder to twice qualifying for the Champions League, twice reaching a cup final, and they ended their 70-year domestic trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup in 2025.
Success measured against past struggles
By most metrics, that should be deemed a success, but when measured against Staveley's ambition to win the Premier League within five years, it could be deemed a failure. Jordan has dismissed that notion, suggesting what Newcastle have achieved against a backdrop of financial restrictions tightening and limiting their spending potential should be applauded.
"If you're measuring against what they had for however many years Mike was there, it's an unprecedented success," Jordan told talkSPORT. "It's created hope, it's created optimism, it's created achievements. It means that they're no longer looking behind them at the Championship."
"It's a club that's looking forward, in so far as how it (the takeover) was billed, by those that billed it incorrectly, it can never be because the (financial) rules don't allow it. So I don't think it can be viewed as a disappointment."
Doubt over 2030 vision
"Against its characterisation, which was never realistic in the first place, it's a failure. But in terms of how Newcastle achieved such a reputational switch from a club that was clinging on to being in the Premier League, I think it represents a level of success. But not the level of success that stupid people billed it as."
Hopkinson has consistently repeated his aim for Newcastle's men and women's teams to be able to consistently compete for the Premier League and WSL titles by 2030, but Jordan has cast doubt over how realistic that ambition is.
"Very little, I suspect," he added. "What is interesting to ask these sort of people is, when they give you these visions, how do you do it? Do you accept that, as you keep on evolving, the bigger clubs are going to keep on evolving too?"
"I want them to be trying to win the league. I don't care about Man United winning it, Liverpool winning it, Arsenal winning it, because we've seen all that before."
"To win a Premier League, to be in Europe, to be a dominant force, you have to have the best players with the best manager and the best resources. And how are Newcastle seriously going to get that in any short order with the restrictions that are unfairly put upon them?"
