Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley 'diluting' her stake in the club as others cover losses

Newcastle United co-owner Amanda Staveley is "diluting" her investment into the club as other stakeholders cover any losses.

While Staveley and husband Merhdad Ghodoussi remain the faces of Newcastle's historic 2021 takeover, the financial investments she makes are starting to wind down.

As we know, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) owns an 80% stake in Newcastle, the rest of the club is owned by the Reuben Brothers and Staveley.

However, we could soon see Staveley phase herself out of the ownership picture despite her stressing that she remains on the "top-co and the board".

Image: PA

Amanda Staveley's share in Newcastle is decreasing

On Staveley's investments football finance guru Kieran Maguire said: "What we are seeing is that Newcastle United are issuing single shares so it doesn't really affect the percentages.

"They did one for £60m last August. They did one for £37m about six weeks ago so that doesn't really impact upon the 80/20 split.

"But what we are seeing increasingly, as far as the non-PIF ownership are concerned, is that, originally, Amanda Staveley effectively owned 10% and the Reubens owned 10% and every time there's a change, Amanda Staveley is not buying any more shares and the Reubens are so we're seeing her slice of the pie getting smaller and smaller and smaller

"It was 10%. Before last month, it was down to just over 6%. I think it's now probably around 5.75% so her investment is diluting because either through choice or necessity, she has not been buying into Newcastle

"Newcastle are doing very well on the pitch, as we know, but it costs the club a lot of money to invest in players, to invest in wages, so the club is losing money and those losses are effectively being funded by the shareholders, but it's coming from the PIF and the Reubens."

What does this mean for Newcastle's transfer business?

Amanda Staveley lowering her stake in the club means very little to Newcastle boss Eddie Howe's transfer proceedings.

Staveley and Ghodoussi will still both be working tirelessly with other key figureheads at the club to ensure Howe gets the backing he needs.

It just means they will be taking a step back regarding putting money into the club.

The focus for investment will now be on The Reubens and the PIF.