Newcastle United managing director Lee Charnley will leave the club after agreeing to stay on for a handover period only under the new owners.
Sportsmail has been told that an amicable agreement has already been reached between Charnley and Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-backed group that will see him depart St James’ Park after more than 20 years’ service.
The 42-year-old has been Mike Ashley’s man in charge of the day-to-day running of the Magpies since 2013 having previously served as club secretary.
Charnley has been the link between manager and owner during that period and was often caught in the middle when that relationship became fractious, especially in the case of Ashley and former boss Rafa Benitez.
Some sources have long since expressed sympathy that he has had little help in running the club and was left to oversee key football decisions - including managerial changes and transfers - despite a background primarily in administration.
He is well thought of within St James' Park but fans, on the whole, have always seen him as Ashley’s man and it is little surprise that he will not continue in the long term under the new owners, who are expecting to take control should Premier League approval on the £300million takeover be granted within the next few weeks.
