Newcastle coach feared being replaced but owners had perfect response in Mike Ashley contrast

Newcastle United's owners have shown a 'genuine care' in wanting to develop the club and have established 'open and honest' communication with staff.

That is according to Becky Langley, the manager of Newcastle Women, who will proudly lead her side out at St James' Park next month on what will be a historic occasion for the Lady Magpies. That final game of the season against Barnsley on May 1 will be the first time that Newcastle Women have ever played at St James' and Langley will hope the afternoon ends with her side as FA Women's National League Division One North champions.

Getting the chance to play at St James' was an unimaginable prospect in the Ashley era, but the hierarchy want women's football to be moved back into the heart of the club and Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi have met the team and attended a number of games. As well as making a vow to pay the players as professionals, the owners want to help the women's team move up the leagues and ensure the Lady Magpies are based at an all-encompassing site when a new training ground is eventually built, which will have been music to Langley's ears.

"Initially, when the owners first came in, there was a lot of uncertainty and a lot of excitement at the same time," Langley told the McClaren Performance podcast. "A lot of the players are fans. They support Newcastle United. They go to St James' Park every Saturday so it was almost seen as life-changing for the football club they love and die for to pull on that black and white shirt.

"It was exciting that there was finances and a genuine care from the owners coming into a football club and wanting to develop it, which they hadn't seen previously from the previous owner. It was all exciting, but all felt