Newcastle United are entering their busiest season in recent memory following qualification for the new-look Champions League.
Fans rejoiced in May after the screen at St James’ Park confirmed that the biggest European nights would be returning to Tyneside for the 2025/26 campaign, but very few realised what it meant for the schedule at the time.
This season marks the first time that Newcastle United will be playing in the new format of the Champions League, which has seen the traditional group phase scrapped and a league phase introduced.
The changes mean that Newcastle will play eight games in the Champions League this season, so their total number of fixtures could exceed 60 if they put in a good run in the cup competitions.
Bruno Guimaraes called for new signings at Newcastle in May, and while four senior players have arrived, there will still be concerns after the last two seasons with injury. The rising number of fixtures each season is becoming more of a talking point, and the Premier League will eventually need to do something.
Discussing ideas, Geordie Boot Boys spoke to finance expert Kieran Maguire to learn which options would be the most financially feasible for Newcastle.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty ImagesPIF may not be happy with scrapping a cup competition, says Kieran Maguire
In March, Newcastle beat Liverpool at Wembley Stadium to win the Carabao Cup, their first domestic trophy since 1955. Amid the celebrations, Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan told fans the Carabao Cup would not be the last trophy they won.
However, it is common knowledge that the competition is the least reputable in the trio, including the FA Cup and Premier League, and the fact that games are played in midweek makes schedules even more congested.
In 2020, UEFA president Alexander Ceferin called for the Carabao Cup to be scrapped to help relieve issues with fixture congestion. However, Maguire does not believe PIF would be open to that idea.
“Newcastle are in a strange position as far as the makeup of English football is concerned,” he said.
“You only have to look at the impact that winning the League Cup had for them. That is certainly in play as far as the carving up of the calendar is concerned. It’s one of the things that could be sacrificed.
“But with the League Cup, Newcastle’s owners can say they have now delivered a senior trophy. If you get rid of it, you’re reducing the number of trophies available. The Big Six all want to win trophies, and six into three doesn’t go in terms of the FA Cup and the Premier League – there aren’t enough trophies to win.”
A smaller Premier League would benefit Newcastle United financially
The Premier League has had 20 teams for almost the entirety of its history. However, it initially started with 22.
It was decided that the Premier League would be reduced to 20 teams from the 1994/95 season to reduce fixture congestion and improve match quality. With other competitions growing, it begs the question of whether the Premier League should follow in the footsteps of the Bundesliga and become an 18-team league.
Newcastle are the beneficiary of the current TV deal that the Premier League receives, with the Magpies getting a handy slice of the pie. However, they would receive much more if the number of teams were to be reduced, with the Premier League’s £12bn broadcast deal from the current rights cycle.
The same revenue would be shared around a smaller league, so Newcastle would automatically be given a bigger cheque.
“Newcastle are where Man City were 12 years ago,” Maguire added.
“For City, winning the FA Cup was the initial statement. For Newcastle fans – and perhaps the owners as well – they will have a more sympathetic approach to the current size of the Premier League and the future of the League Cup.
“If it was a 16 or 18-club competition, Newcastle might be better off from one perspective. That’s because the TV deal would be unaffected, so you’d be sharing the same amount of revenue between fewer clubs.
“There would be no loss in value. I can assure you of that. The broadcasters aren’t interested in Burnley vs Wolves. Those kinds of games have no impact in negotiations with broadcasters.”
While the financial benefits are no doubt mouthwatering for Newcastle, Premier League CEO Richard Masters has confirmed that he will not consider reducing the number of teams to 18.