We're ambitious, but success takes time, says new Magpies boss

LONDON — Newcastle's new head coach Matthias Jaissle has underlined the club's ambition, despite a string of high-profile exits, including his predecessor Eddie Howe last month, but warned success would not come overnight.

Howe left St James' Park after nearly five years in charge, with a clutch of senior players — captain Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon — all departing during the summer transfer window.

Saudi-backed Newcastle has signed a group of young players including Bazoumana Toure, Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba, but the departures have left the squad short of experience.

Nevertheless, former RB Salzburg and Al Ahli boss Jaissle remains upbeat.

"We are ambitious. That's the most important thing — also why I decided to come here — but this will not happen overnight," he said at his first news conference at St James' Park on Tuesday.

"The players who left the club, they were great players, great characters, experienced players, and this is now a vacuum other players need to step into.

"It's a big challenge, always when there's a transition period, but it's no time to complain. It doesn't make sense to see the negative things. We want to see the chance in that situation, and that's our approach from day one."

Jaissle, who guided RB Salzburg to back-to-back Austrian league titles and Saudi side Al Ahli to successive Asian Champions League crowns, said Newcastle had options in the remaining weeks of the transfer window.

"Either we adjust something in the squad, by signing these players, these profiles, or other players need to step up and fill these positions, these leadership roles," he said.

"So I am quite optimistic, we can work in both scenarios. My job is to make the best out of it."

Jaissle steered clear of setting a firm target for Newcastle, who limped to a 12th-place finish in the Premier League last season.

"I'm in the industry long enough (to know) that you cannot promise anything," he said.

"It makes no sense to promise things now, because I don't know how things will look in half a year or in one year. What we can control, we will control."

Englishman Howe revitalized a club that had struggled for decades, securing a first major trophy in 56 years by winning the League Cup in 2025 and twice qualifying for the Champions League.

Newcastle starts its Premier League campaign at home to Liverpool on Aug 23.

Reds fans raise questions

Liverpool supporters' group Spirit of Shankly said the interests of the club and fans must come first following reports that a consortium that includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is close to a deal to buy a significant minority stake in the club.

Sky News said Bezos was part of an investor group led by Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of India steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, which also includes Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin.

Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group confirmed the approach from Bhatia's group in July.

Monday's Sky report said the consortium was "closing in on a deal to buy roughly a one-third stake in Liverpool", with FSG preparing to make an announcement "as soon as this week".

Bezos is one of the world's richest men, with a fortune estimated by Forbes magazine at more than $280 billion, while Saverin's wealth is put at $33 billion.

The 62-year-old Bezos has reportedly explored previous bids for the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, but decided against pursuing either deal.

Spirit of Shankly has written to Liverpool asking for more clarity and a meeting to discuss the potential changes.

"Putting the interests of LFC and its supporters first is fundamental to us all," said a statement from the group.

"The latest report of a 30 percent sale and the consortium set up to buy it is significant. The ownership and custodianship of our club is paramount to SoS and all supporters.

"We have witnessed similar sales at other clubs resulting in notable changes in the running of that club and football operations, leading to decisions and behaviors that many would not want to see at Liverpool."

AFP