Newcastle United's mid-season trip to Saudi Arabia could provide their commercial team with an "opportunity" to seek out new off-field partners, according to football finance expert Dr Dan Plumley.
The Lowdown: Newcastle off to Saudi Arabia
Fourteen months on from the much-publicised takeover by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) at St James' Park, the Magpies go into the mid-season break in high spirits.
Eddie Howe had guided his team to third in the Premier League table, losing just once in the top flight this term, with Champions League football for 2023/24 becoming a distinct possibility.
With top-flight action not set to resume until Boxing Day, Newcastle jet off to Saudi Arabia tomorrow for a six-day warm-weather training camp, and it's not just the playing squad who could benefit from the trip to the Middle East.
The Latest: 'Opportunity' for Newcastle
Dr Plumley stated that the trip to Riyadh could offer the club's commercial team the perfect chance to clinch more sponsorship deals for the Tyneside outfit.
He told Football Insider: "I think there are two factors to this. We are in a digital world but you can’t replicate a face-to-face meeting and the owners meeting with the commercial department is important.
"But it also gives the commercial team an opportunity to scout out the area as well. They can get a feel for it on the ground.
"It makes perfect sense because we know they want to concentrate their focus on the region. We know it is going to be fruitful for them in the future.
"There are certain ways to do business, business etiquette, especially for deals of this size. You expect people from the club to meet face to face."
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The Verdict: More good news for Newcastle
In addition to the stellar work that Howe and his players are doing, Newcastle's behind-the-scenes staff also appear to be doing their jobs excellently.
Earlier this week, it was reported that the club are set to strike a ten-year, £300m partnership with airline SAUDIA, which could encompass both shirt sponsorship and St James’ Park naming rights.
The Magpies also have a shirt-sleeve sponsorship with PIF-linked Noon.com, which indicates that the owners are putting their connections to very good use.
The income from lucrative commercial deals could potentially trickle down to an increased transfer budget for Howe to exploit, so the upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia could have a telling impact both on and off the pitch for Newcastle.