Newcastle chief executive David Hopkinson has admitted the club are yet to make a decision over their stadium plans.
There has been plenty of speculation about Newcastle's stadium situation since being taken over by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and RB Sports & Media in 2021.
Newcastle are believed to be considering whether to expand and improve St James' Park, or build a completely new stadium away from their current home.
Hopkinson chief explains Newcastle stadium latest
Hopkinson, who was appointed Newcastle's CEO in September, provided an update on the situation at an event on Monday evening, conceding that he is unsure when a decision will be made.
“I don’t know. We’re not ready to yet,” Hopkinson said at St James' STACK. “What’s clear is to win consistently, to be at the top consistently, we’ve got to grow revenues, and that means we need world-class facilities to generate those revenues.
“St James’ Park is incredible, but I think there are still opportunities, but whether that’s a renovated or reimagined St James’, we haven’t made a decision yet. We are working on it literally every day.
“I know there’s a lot of pressure. I don’t know when that will be. That’s not today, and I don’t think it will be next week either. We’re working on it furiously. The complexity around financing it’s an incredibly complex project.“
The land at Leazes Park has been suggested as a potential site if Newcastle decide to leave St James' Park, with the club keen to increase their current capacity of just over 52,000.
Hopkinson acknowledged that a lack of information about a St James' Park expansion or a new stadium will frustrate the Newcastle fanbase.
“This will be the most ambitious project this club has ever taken on,” Hopkinson added. “That work needs to be below the waterline. Grand announcements of this design and this date, we’re not ready for that year.
“Getting ahead of ourselves with the announcement of a plan will not be helpful. I recognise that will not be a popular answer, but I don’t know the timing of a press announcement at this point.”
FGG says: Frustrating but sensible
Newcastle fans will want to know sooner rather than later about whether the club will look to build a new ground or develop St James' Park, especially as the Magpies' hierarchy stated in 2024 that a stadium decision could be close.
However, from the club's perspective, they need to make the right decision, which requires time to investigate all possibilities and gather all the necessary information before they inform supporters about what path they will take.