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Newcastle: Media react to Peter Silverstone appointment

By Will Seager

Published Oct 19, 2022

Following Peter Silverstone’s appointment as the club's new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), journalist Charlie Bennett has reflected on the stark differences in the way Newcastle United are run by the Public Investment Fund compared to previous years under Mike Ashley.

Peter Silverstone’s appointment as Newcastle United's new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) has been praised by journalist Charlie Bennett.

The Lowdown: Silverstone’s appointment

On Monday, the Magpies took to their official club website to announce the behind-the-scenes appointment of Silverstone at St James’ Park.

Prior to his arrival on Tyneside, Silverstone spent seven years at Arsenal – four of which were working as the Gunners’ Commercial Director and as their Chief Commercial Officer.

Following this, he joined football media organisation OneFootball, where he was Senior Vice President of Global Development.

The Latest: Bennett’s reaction

Alongside the arrival of Darren Eales as the club’s latest Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Dan Ashworth as their new Sporting Director, Bennett is also extremely impressed by PIF’s appointment of Silverstone.

Taking to Twitter, the Chronicle Live journalist fired a cheeky dig at the much maligned Lee Charnley:

“Just a CEO, DoF and CCO appointed on Tyneside in recent months to join five existing board members.

“Who remembers when Newcastle were run like a local handyman? Lee Charnley - the jack of all trades - spinning plates on a shoestring budget.

“Seems like a lifetime ago.”

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The Verdict: Times have changed

With stark behind-the-scenes changes at St James’ Park starting to show on the pitch, Newcastle are only on an upward trajectory from here.

After ten games played this season, the Magpies sit sixth in the Premier League table. Prior to Eddie Howe, the north-east outfit hadn’t finished above 12^th place since Rafa Benitez’s first season back in the top-flight, when the club finished tenth in 2017/18.

However, with the investment made with PIF’s takeover, Newcastle now look well on their way to achieving European qualification, if not this season then in the very near future.

The arrivals of the likes of Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes at St James’ Park illustrate the owners’ ambitions on the pitch, and the appointments of experienced industry leaders shows exactly how smart they are off it.