Yasir Al-Rumayyan's 'affect' wish as Newcastle chairman has 'very positive' meeting

Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan spoke with Eddie Howe

Eddie Howe has revealed he had a 'very positive' meeting with chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan - who 'wants to try and help affect' Newcastle United.

Al-Rumayyan was among those senior PIF figures in attendance for Newcastle's 2-1 win against Spurs last time out. Although the visit to St James' Park was pre-planned, it was timely following a turbulent few months on and off the field.

Newcastle narrowly avoided a PSR breach and points deduction in June; there were huge changes in the boardroom after Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi departed and new sporting director Paul Mitchell was appointed; and the Magpies ultimately failed to sign a difference maker - namely top target Marc Guehi - during the most difficult summer Howe has ever experienced.

Howe has spoken recently about how the landscape has changed since the takeover nearly three years ago and the Newcastle boss admitted PSR rules have impacted the PIF's ability to 'progress the club as quickly as maybe they wanted'. However, Mitchell said Al-Rumayyan was 'as enthused and as ambitious as ever' after holding talks with the Saudi about the club's plan and vision earlier this month and Howe had a similar experience.

"The chairman is always very engaging," he told reporters. "He's a really positive guy so he always wants to try and help affect us in a good way. He's very keen to communicate and help so there were nothing but positives, which was helped by the result. Everyone was in a good mood, after a good start to the season, so it was very positive."