Eddie Howe has never had a 'political' conversation with Newcastle's Saudi owners

Eddie Howe says he does not want to be dragged into the politics surrounding Newcastle's Saudi-backed ownership.

The head coach faced questions on Friday over the relationship between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which holds an 80% stake in the club, and the state after a court document filed in the United States described Yasir Al-Rumayyan – PIF governor and Magpies chairman – as "a sitting minister of the Saudi government".

Howe has repeatedly said he can concentrate only on football when asked about controversial aspects of Newcastle’s ownership in the past, and maintained his stance when questioned on his communication with the hierarchy.

He said: "I’ve had very open communication from the day that I joined with various people connected to the board. But my conversations with them are all football-related, at no stage has it ever gone political.

"That’s not my area, I don’t want it to be my area, I want to concentrate on how I can improve the team, what tools do I need to do that and the relationships with those people around me at the football club are very important.

"Now obviously if I felt there was a time I needed to ask a question, I could. But I haven’t done that."

Howe’s comments came a day after human rights campaigners Amnesty International called on the Premier League to re-examine guarantees provided by the club’s owners as they completed their £305million takeover in October 2021.

The organising body belatedly approved the buyout by Amanda Staveley’s consortium after receiving "legally-binding assurances" of separation between the state and PIF, which is chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

However, the Magpies’ ownership has been thrust into the spotlight once again after Al-Rumayyan was named