NEWCASTLE NOTEBOOK: Ex-referee and AC Milan team manager STAYS on Tyneside to support Sandro Tonali, Amanda Staveley presses on with Toon role… and what did club owners say to fans on a train after England vs Brazil?

Sandro Tonali has not played for Newcastle since October – and won’t do until August at the earliest – but Notebook can reveal that a former Serie A referee and AC Milan ‘team manager’ has remained on Tyneside to support the midfielder.

Andrea Romeo has moved his family to live close to the player but he is NOT employed by the club, who have their own player liaison network.

However, Romeo continues to work for Tonali, who is serving a 10-month global ban after admitting to illegal gambling in Italy. He now faces further punishment after the Football Association hit him with 50 charges of betting on matches as a Newcastle player.

Romeo – a top-flight referee until 2013 – knows Tonali having been employed as Milan’s team manager from 2017. The 53-year-old only left the Serie A club when the Italy international moved to Newcastle in a surprise £52million deal last July. The Magpies, though, had no part in his arrival and we understand it was Tonali’s decision to have the aide with him in England.

Come October, the 23-year-old was being investigated for breaking betting rules in his home country. Newcastle launched an internal investigation into why they did not know it was coming, and among the questions asked were what did Milan and those close to Tonali know about his gambling addiction.

The club have since taken no legal action and have supported the player. They are also confident that any sanction from the FA will not see his ban extended beyond August.

However, there remains a feeling among some inside the club that sporting director Dan Ashworth was ultimately responsible for due diligence. He has since quit and is set to take up a similar role at Manchester United once a compensation package has been agreed.

Andrea Romeo, an ex-Serie A referee and AC Milan ‘team manager’, is staying in Newcastle to support Sandro Tonali

Tonali has not played for since October as he serves a ban for breaching betting rules 

Newcastle are confident any sanction from the FA will not see Tonali’s ban extended  

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Staveley pressing ahead with Toon role 

Despite facing a potential bankruptcy petition, Amanda Staveley’s status as Newcastle co-owner and director is not under any immediate threat, sources have told Notebook.

The 50-year-old has been ordered to pay Greek shipping tycoon Victor Restis £3.4million after a high court determined she was personally liable for the debt, originating from a £10m business investment in 2008.

If Staveley does not pay the former Manchester City director the sum before April 22, he can issue a bankruptcy petition. Individuals who are declared bankrupt or file for bankruptcy are disqualified from acting as a director or owner of a football club.

However, we have been told the case is only at its ‘mid-point’ and that it will likely extend into next season, especially given Staveley’s intention to appeal. 

There is also a feeling there will be a settlement at some stage and that would remove any doubt over Staveley’s involvement at Newcastle, where she has spent this week meeting with department heads and visiting the training ground to see Eddie Howe and his players.

Amanda Staveley has been ordered to pay more than £3m to a Greek businessman

Shipping magnate Victor Restis (pictured) could issue Staveley with a bankruptcy petition

Staveley and husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi were catching the train home following England’s game versus Brazil at Wembley on Saturday when bumping into a group of Newcastle fans.

It is said the owners were receptive when listening to concerns over supporter services, and Staveley invited more feedback.

Despite the club getting a lot right since the takeover in 2021, fan frustration remains over several aspects of club policy, including ticketing.

Chief executive Darren Eales said recently that club staff – including the ticket office – had been abused and even spat at, insisting they would take a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to such incidents.

Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi bumped into Newcastle fans after England vs Brazil

Sela Cup set for August return 

The second edition of the Sela Cup is set to take place on the weekend of August 10/11 at St James’ Park.

We understand top European opposition is still being sourced and there is a want to improve on the profile of last year’s participants; Fiorentina, Nice and Villarreal.

However, while there was at one point hope that a Saudi team complete with some its star names could take part, we understand that is now less likely.

The four-team tournament takes place on the weekend before the Premier League season kicks off and roughly a week after Newcastle return from their pre-season tour, with the United States still the most probable destination.

The Sela Cup will return to St James’ Park this August with hopes the calbre of opponents can be improved  

Isak’s injury inbox 

Callum Wilson is back working on the grass at Newcastle’s Benton base – but such is the current reliance on Alexander Isak, club staff were texting him minutes after he had left the pitch during his recent internationals with Sweden.

The medical team wanted to know if the striker had come through the games against Portugal and Albania with no problems, especially given a recurring groin issue.

Isak reported all was well but Newcastle were hardly likely to have been thrilled by him playing two full matches in the space of four days.

Meanwhile, the 24-year-old’s comments about the summer transfer window and ‘if things show up, things can happen’ have created headlines amid interest from Arsenal.

However, we understand Newcastle are relaxed about the situation and are instead looking to build a forward line around Isak, and one that allows for his load to be managed correctly. 

Wilson’s own injury problems make that difficult at present, and that is why fears remain of Isak breaking down again.

Newcastle’s medical team were texting Alexander Isak as soon as he left the pitch after Sweeden’s matches against Portugal and Albania

Callum Wilson, meanwhile, is back working on the grass at Newcastle’s Benton base

Magpies are ‘madd’ not to go for James 

I spoke with James Maddison following England’s 2-2 draw with Belgium on Tuesday at Wembley – and it made me think that Newcastle really did miss a trick not signing him in the summer.

There was word that he always fancied a move to Spurs, but my information going into the summer was that the Magpies were set to rival them for his signature. That did not happen and attention turned to Tonali – and what a disaster that has proven so far.

But it’s not just that, there is a quality about Maddison that I believe would have lit up St James’ Park and injected enthusiasm and energy into a testing season. 

Yes, he’s had his own injury problems for a period this term, but he’s a wonderful player and just as engaging a character. 

Newcastle have lacked his type of creativity of late. He was a bargain at £40m.

Newcastle were set to rival Tottenham to sign James Maddison during the summer 

Gordon’s a tonic with England 

On the subject of England, I’m happy to report that my colleagues covering the national team were very taken with Anthony Gordon this past fortnight.

Players aren’t obliged to stop and talk to us post match and Gordon, with his family waiting following his debut against Brazil, would have been forgiven for rushing to see them. Instead, he gave us his time and was thoughtful with it, never reverting to easy, media-trained answers.

More importantly, however, he did well on the pitch, and it was interesting to see the majority of ‘likely Euros squads’ written by journalists this week had the Newcastle winger among their 23.

Anthony Gordon made his England debut during Englnad’s 1-0 defeat by Brazil last week

Botman regret 

I was among a group of reporters waiting to speak to Jarrad Branthwaite at St George’s Park last week when I got news of Sven Botman’s knee injury and impending surgery. My first question for the Everton defender should have been, ‘You fancy Newcastle this summer?’.

On Botman, what a shame he carried on playing post September when he was clearly not the same player and only now has it been decided he will have surgery. Howe says it was Botman’s decision not to operate in the autumn when medical staff advised him to do so.

That was a mistake and it has robbed Newcastle of their best defender heading into next season, when an earlier operation would have seen him back this summer.

Howe says it was Sven Botman’s decision not to operate on his knee injury in the autumn when medical staff advised him to do so

Toon teaser… 

Finally, it’s Toon Teaser time. Our last question was this: Name the eight Newcastle players (prior to this season) who made only ONE Premier League appearance for the club. The answers were: Matty Appleby, Martin Brittain, James Coppinger, Darren Huckerby, Brian Kilcline, Jamie Sterry, Antonio Barreca and Kelland Watts.

This week’s puzzler is: Name the 15 goalkeepers who have played for Newcastle in the Premier League.

The answers will be revealed at 9pm on Friday evening on our new NUFC-dedicated WhatsApp channel.

It’s free and is available HERE!