20 Key Things We Learned From Newcastle's Fans Forum Minutes

14. Improvement Plans For The Training Ground Were Shelved Last Season When NUFC's Premier League Status Was Under Threat

An extremely interesting admission from the club was that plans to develop and upgrade the training ground further were shelved last season when the club's Premier League status was under threat. Essentially Newcastle United have admitted that the club pressed the "pause button" on all off-field activities, so petrified were they of finding themselves in the Championship this season. Steve Hastie, of NUFC Fans United, asked: "What stage is the club at with the new training ground?" To which the response was:

"The club outlined that planning has been approved, tenders had been out and prices had been supplied. In order to proceed, contracts needed to be signed well in advance but because of the position the club found itself in towards the end of the season, the decision was taken not to commit at that time. "Along with the head coach, the club is now identifying the best time to start work and is mindful of disruptions mid-season."

Unfortunately, John Carver's shambolic mismanagement of Newcastle on the field also appears to have cost them off it - seeing as it delayed infrastructure improvement projects.