Staveley got emotional when she received a message from a Newcastle United fan page
Former Newcastle United co-owner Amanda Staveley broke down in tears when she received an emotional message from a Magpies fan page about her time at the club.
Staveley was instrumental in orchestrating the PIF-backed takeover of Newcastle in 2021, acquiring a 10% stake in the club alongside her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi.
The 52-year-old was largely seen as the face of the club during Newcastle's rise from relegation fodder to Champions League football within the first two years of their ownership.
Staveley and Ghodoussi agreed to sell their shares in July 2024 and leave the club as PIF became 85% shareholders and the Reuben family upped their stake in the club to 15%.
At the time, Staveley insisted she would remain a Newcastle fan 'for life' and described it as an 'honour' to have been co-owner of the club.
The message read: "We are grateful for the investment, for the progress on the pitch and finally being able to see our club compete again but a football club is more than just a business. It is a community, it is a family and families thrive on communication, warmth and understanding.
"Without wor Mandy leading the charge in that regard Newcastle United risks losing a vital connection with its soul - the loyal, passionate black-and-white army.
"For the club to rediscover its voice, to reconnect with its fans and to bring back some of that much needed warmth that Amanda Staveley so brilliantly provided."
When Humphrey asked Staveley how that made her feel she could not hold back the tears.
"That's really hard. God, sorry," Staveley replied.
"That is really hard because that is really lovely and that is why I went into Newcastle because the fans are just so incredible and they really are.
"Leaving was the hardest thing I have ever done and took a long time to understand and do what is right for the club and PIF is going to be an incredible partner for Newcastle, and the Reubens.
"We left it in very safe hands. There are so many great people with great hearts who put so much into that club and into the community and in to everything about it.
"So for me it was a privilege. Every day I would go to work and think 'God, I am so lucky to do this job'."
Staveley has this week been linked with a takeover of fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, with the Telegraph reporting that her PCP International Finance consortium failed in a bid to buy the club following last week's announcement that Daniel Levy had stood down as Spurs' Executive Chairman.
Spurs confirmed in a statement on Sunday evening that it had "received, and unequivocally rejected, separate preliminary expressions of interest in relation to proposals to acquire the entire issued, and to be issued, share capital of ENIC from (i) PCP International Finance... and (ii) a consortium of investors led by Dr. Roger Kennedy and Wing-Fai Ng through Firehawk Holdings Limited".
"The Board of the Club and ENIC confirm that Tottenham Hotspur is not for sale and ENIC has no intention to accept any such offer to acquire its interest in the Club."