“By the end of the season” – Keith Downie drops big Newcastle behind-scenes claim after Ashworth

Newcastle United are expected to welcome a new chief executive to St James’ Park before the season reaches its climax, according to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie.

The Magpies entered a new era last October, when the Saudi Arabia-based Public Investment Fund led a £305million takeover which ended the ‘much-maligned’ Mike Ashley’s 14-year reign.

Speaking at a Financial Times Live event, via Chronicle Live, co-owner Amanda Staveley has confirmed Newcastle are looking to bolster their assets behind-the-scenes by appointing a chief executive.

While admitting talks have been held with potential contenders, Staveley has insisted their search has been time-consuming due to aiming to ‘find the best’ candidate for the job.

Having already become the richest club in world football thanks to the Public Investment Fund’s injection of cash, Newcastle’s intentions to recruit a chief executive became clear when Lee Charnley left the club a month after the takeover, with a statement revealing a formal recruitment process was underway.

The Athletic claimed interviews had begun soon after the turn of the year, with the Magpies hierarchy tipped to complete their search ‘over the next few weeks’.

Although The Sun journalist Alan Nixon suggested Peter Kenyon is in the running to be unveiled as Newcastle’s new chief executive, having previously held a similar role at Chelsea, he has not headed to Tyneside yet.

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Downie understands Newcastle opted against rushing into the appointment of a chief executive as key decision-makers were confident that they could steer the club through the January transfer window without any assistance.

The Sky Sports reporter,