Multiple big-name Newcastle stars ‘have not been paid their image rights by the club’ – while agents ‘have been waiting three MONTHS for fees’
- The delays are said to be due to processing problems rather than financial problems
- Stars have been paid normal wages at certain times, but some are waiting for compensation for image rights
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Newcastle are reportedly trying to resolve an issue where several prominent stars have been waiting for their image rights payments.
In addition, several player agents have been waiting for commission payments from the club for three months.
The Magpies insist their deposits have been paid or are on their way to the players and their representatives, according to a report from The Athletics.
Such delays are said to be due to processing issues with the club’s owners rather than a lack of finances.
Players have continued to receive their normal wages and the club says they have taken steps to resolve the complication of image rights.
Footballer image rights are often a bundle that includes the player’s name, nicknames, likeness, voice and other personal characteristics.
Several Newcastle stars are said to have had their image rights payments postponed by the club
Several players’ agents also reportedly waited three months for commission fees
It is an unfortunate episode for Newcastle, which is 85 percent owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund and 15 percent by RB Sports & Media.
They are enduring another turbulent season, sitting 12th in the Premier League under Eddie Howe and fighting to stay in line with the Profit & Sustainability Regulations.
There have been many highlights this campaign: wins over Arsenal and Tottenham, alongside draws with Manchester City and Liverpool, have shown they are capable of competing with the ‘Big Six’.
They are also through to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, having dispatched Nottingham Forest, Chelsea and Brentford to reach the last four.
But Howe admits that PSR and Associated Party Transaction restrictions, which relate to sponsorship, have affected their progress on the field.
“I would say (financial regulations) have had a dramatic effect on the speed of travel,” Howe said. ‘I can’t deny that (speed) has changed dramatically as a result of the rules and you can feel that change, especially as everyone has come to grips with PSR and the actual reality of it.
‘The punishments became very real. There’s nothing more sobering than the thought of a point deduction when it comes to changing what you need to do to comply with the rules. That will impact our ability to change things as quickly as possible with a view to winning trophies.”
Howe added: “But I don’t think there has been a lowering of expectations internally. There was never a moment where we said, “We can’t do this or we can’t achieve that.”
Eddie Howe has helped Newcastle to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup but they are 12th in the Premier League
‘Your players will quickly pick up on it if you are not ambitious. I always like to think that the impossible is possible, especially with my players. I force them to believe that we can achieve anything.
‘When you say that, there has to be some kind of realistic expectation externally, because the external expectation will harm us internally.
‘The external view of the media and of everyone must be shaped around our reality. Our reality has been very different in the last two transfer windows.’
Howe took Newcastle to the Carabao Cup final in 2023 but were defeated by Manchester United, and no manager since the club’s victory in the FA Cup final in 1955 has guided the team to two domestic semi-finals.
Mail Sport has contacted Newcastle United for comment.