Newcastle co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi to leave

Newcastle United co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi are set to leave the club after three years.

Stavelely played a pivotal role in orchestrating the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) takeover of the Premier League club back in 2021.

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PIF purchased an 80 per cent stake of Newcastle from Mike Ashley for £300million.

As part of that deal, Staveley and husband Ghodoussi acquired a 10 per cent stake in Newcastle, while the Reuben family also purchased 10 per cent.

Staveley and Ghodoussi recently reduced their stake by selling some of their shares to the Reubens.

Staveley has been the public figurehead for the Saudis and attended the majority of games at St James’ Park, as well as representing the club at Premier League meetings.

Newcastle were 19th when the new owners took over the club from the much maligned Ashley.

Steve Bruce was sacked as manager, replaced by Eddie Howe, and since then more than £400m has been ploughed into transfers.

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In their first full season as owners and with Staveley taking a lead role in the club, Newcastle finished fourth in the Premier League in 2022/23.

That secured the club Champions League football for the first time since 2003.

The Mapgies also reached the League Cup final that season, where they lost to Manchester United.

Last season they finished seventh in the Premier League under Howe, narrowly missing out on a return to European competition.

There have already been some changes off the pitch this summer, with Dan Ashworth being replaced by Paul Mitchell as sporting director.

talkSPORT understands that Mitchell was not Staveley’s choice as replacement.

Stavelely’s shares in Newcastle had also already been reduced to four per cent, with a Companies House filing showing the Reubens increasing their stake.

She will now step down from the board and are set to sell all her remaining shares with Ghodoussi.

Staveley had previously told talkSPORT that they have huge ambition to dominate the English game, but will now attempt to do so without her in the picture.

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“We will win the Carabao Cup, we will win the FA Cup, we will win the Champions League, we will win the Premier League,” she previously told talkSPORT.

“This is all about the amazing fans who have taken us on this amazing journey. We’re just honoured and humbled. We feel very privileged to run Newcastle.”

Newcastle are yet to officially comment on the matter.

In March, Staveley was found liable to pay a Greek shipping magnate, Victor Restis, £3.4million owed from an investment he made in her business ventures.

A spokesperson for Staveley said at the time that she disputed personal liability in the matter and intended to appeal against the ruling.

The £300million Saudi takeover of Newcastle attracted huge attention, not least because of the kingdom’s human rights record.

The deal stalled for months before finally concluding in October 2021 when the Premier League received “legally-binding assurances” that there would be no state involvement in the running of the club.