Jordan tells Staveley to 'dial down fake humility' after owner's praise of Newcastle fans

But the Magpies co-owner has come under fire from Simon Jordan, who told Staveley to 'dial down the fake humility' after her comments thanking fans for their support in London.

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The Magpies failed to end their 68-year wait for a major piece of silverware on Sunday, losing 2-0 to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final.

Nevertheless, after years of obscurity, the Toon Army are fifth in the Premier League, swapping relegation battles for the pursuit of Champions League football.

Their change in fortunes came when Staveley helped a Saudi-backed consortium buy Newcastle from Mike Ashley in October 2021, making them the richest club in world football.

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Despite the Wembley heartbreak, Sunday's final captured the mood of a city which has learned to love football again.

Ticketless Geordies travelled to London in their thousands and those inside the ground created an incredible atmosphere, even on the brink of defeat.

And British businesswoman Staveley tells supporters this is just the beginning.

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"I was so proud of all of the fans," she told talkSPORT after the defeat at Wembley. "Everybody. I was crying, my son was crying, we're all crying.

"But it was amazing, at 2-0 down, we had flags going. The passion from everyone, they've all taken us on this journey.

"We will win the Carabao Cup. We will win the FA Cup. We will win the Champions League. We will win the Premier League.

"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."

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Staveley added: "We don't deserve the amount of support we have as owners. We're very humbled by what's happened today.

"Yasir [Al-Rumayyan] is here, we were so excited to come. Look at the scenes in Trafalgar Square last night.

"Next time, we will get there."

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But Jordan - who has clashed with the Newcastle co-owner before - dismissed those comments as 'PR spin', insisting they should not have been surprised by the level of support on show in the capital.

"I think they've done what they anticipated they would do… this is just PR spin - you knew you were buying a football club and that if you got them to a League Cup final you would inundate London [with fans]," said the White and Jordan host.

"So let's dial down the fake humility and look at the reality.

"You're the owners of a big club in England. I think it's ridiculous to turn around and say you didn't expect that. If I bought Newcastle and set the town on fire I would know that Newcastle getting to a cup final that London would be inundated, because they've got a remarkable fanbase."

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Asked if there is anything wrong in her congratulating the fans for making the trip, Jordan added: "No, absolutely, I think it's wonderful PR spin."

"Oh it's not PR spin," argued Arsenal legend and guest co-host Martin Keown

"Well, I think it is," Jordan replied.

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But Keown said: "No, no, no - it's emotion. She got emotional at the end, and the fans would never have heard that under Mike Ashley, would they? To say, 'We don't really deserve the fans because their support is so good', I think that's heartfelt."

Jordan replied: "But it's preposterous rubbish!

"Because that ownership model absolutely deserves those fans being behind them. They have walked into a football club, have spent more money in one year than Ashley probably spent in five, you've bought it off the tyrant and given the town a feelgood factor - so the one thing you do deserve is an absolute supporting fanbase - you've just got them to a cup final!"

"It's entirely appropriate that Amanda Staveley is patted on the back for the appointments that have been made by her and others, and [as a fan] if you cannot be behind what they're doing now at Newcastle, when in God's name would you be behind it?

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"But let's get past the sentimental rubbish."

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