Amanda Staveley set to leave Newcastle less than three years after taking over – with the businesswoman and husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi planning to sell their six per cent stake in the club

Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi are to leave Newcastle United after almost three years as co-owners of the club.

Mail Sport has learned that their six percent stake is to be sold to one or both of the Saudi Public Investment Fund and the Reuben family.

The couple will no longer be involved with the club on a day-to-day basis.

PIF currently owns 80 percent of Newcastle, while the Reubens’ stake has increased from 10 percent to 14 percent since the takeover in 2021.

Staveley and Ghodoussi’s stake has fallen from 10 percent as their co-owners have invested more capital into the club.

The couple has been the public figure of the club owners since 2021

Staveley played a key role in facilitating the club’s takeover by Saudi Arabian side PIF for £300m in October 2021 and has been a key power broker at St James’ Park ever since.

But they leave a legacy of ending Mike Ashley’s unpopular ownership of Newcastle. It was Staveley who brokered the £305m buyout, backed by Saudi investors and the Reubens.

She and Ghodoussi subsequently acted as de facto CEOs and sporting directors during the first months of the new Newcastle.

They appointed Eddie Howe as manager, signed players such as Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier and avoided relegation in their first season.

They will leave a legacy of ending Mike Ashley’s unpopular ownership of Newcastle

During her time at Newcastle, Staveley and Ghodoussi led the club through a successful period

In the second campaign, Newcastle reached the Champions League for the first time in 20 years and reached the final of the Carabao Cup. They also broke the club’s transfer record with the £63m signing of Alexander Isak.

But their declining stake always meant it was likely they would sell their shares at some point. A statement is now expected from the club confirming the news.