Tracksuit-clad David Hopkinson joins Newcastle United team as Magpies jet off to Baku ahead of Champions League play-off
Newcastle United are heading to the far reaches of Europe to take on Qarabag in Azerbaijan, 2500 miles away.
It's quite the journey to be taking the day before a match, and then they have to face the return journey on Thursday ahead of a game late on Saturday. It's going to be a tough week for the lads, no doubt.
This is the price you pay for competing with the big boys, however, and the lads looked to be in good spirits as the club released several images of the team boarding their plane to Baku.
Among the boarding party was new CEO David Hopkinson, all kitted up in the club's tracksuits. We knew Eddie Howe's squad was thin, but we didn't know we'd called up Hopkinson to the squad.
David Hopkinson gave an ambitious interview with talkSPORT recently
Hopkinson's latest public appearance comes after his interview on talkSPORT that set out some lofty ambitions for the club.
David Hopkinson claimed that the club are operating under a five-year plan that has them competing for the Premier League title before 2030.
Even the most die-hard Newcastle fans feel that his claims are a bit far-fetched, but there was logic behind it, with Hopkinson saying that ambitions without a clock are just dreams.
David Hopkinson has brought about the end of WFH culture at Newcastle United
The latest move from the new CEO was to put an end to club staff working from home. As part of his 100-day review, Hopkinson has told employees working offsite that they must return to their desks.
It's a working habit that many are trying to restore up and down the country after so many people were forced to work from home during the pandemic, and it became clear that many people were just as productive in their own gaff.
However, big bosses hate it as there's less oversight, and it means that expensive buildings are running empty and costing companies money. As someone who wouldn't leave my house if it were on fire, I'm glad I don't work for the club.
