​Newcastle United Sign | Credit: SmartFrame Images | Every Second MediaA very interesting interview with Newcastle United Chief David Hopkinson as a very ‘interesting’ summer has developed,The Newcastle United CEO speaking with less than three weeks to go until the 2026/27 season kicks off.A change of manager, a huge shift in the playing squad.Yet for David Hopkinson this is simply part of something bigger.The Newcastle United Chief has been talking to George Caulkin of The Athletic about progressing from “Newcastle United 1.0” to “Newcastle United 2.0” on Tyneside.George Caulkin explaining: ‘Late last week, David Hopkinson invited club staff to the Platinum Club, a hospitality suite at the stadium, for what he described as a “conversation”. It was in the aftermath of The Athletic reporting that Howe was stepping down, which could only feel like a significant, angsty moment given the scale of his contribution. Hopkinson offered bullish reassurance and then invited feedback. “We have a plan here, we have an ambition and we’re right on track,” he told his audience.David Hopkinson stating: “There’s no Newcastle 2.0 without Newcastle 1.0…It ignited this community and allowed us to dream. It brought us spectacular nights here, it brought us a trophy and a parade and watching those scenes is one of the reasons I decided to uproot my life and come here. It was a great chapter, but we were living beyond our means. And, at some point, you’ve got to pay the credit card bill.”The Newcastle United Chief going on to say: “We’re going forwards, in a way that is built to last…We are pivoting in line with our reality, but we will surge forward from here and get into a position where we can win consistently. This Newcastle 2.0 team will be young, hungry, ambitious, relentless. They want to be here and they will fight for everything. This is exciting. This is transformational. This is intentional. Let’s go.”David Hopkinson on Eddie Howe (and ‘Newcastle 1.0’…): “Eddie is the architect, the leader, the author of Newcastle 1.0. He did an extraordinary job. There is so much about him I truly admire, including his total commitment. I’ve been in this business more than 30 years and I can’t think of anybody who outworks Eddie, but there’s nothing that gives that doesn’t also take. Eddie has done that at a tremendous cost, with time away from his family and, as his friend, I think it has impacted him. He loves this club so much, but when he put his hand up and said ‘I’m not sure I can go on’, we were faced with a choice. Do I talk him into staying or do we need to accept that answer and accept that Eddie knows what’s best for himself? Eddie also made this decision through a lens of what’s best for Newcastle and knowing we need a level of energy, passion, commitment and work that, in his own estimation, he’s unable to deliver right now.”The Newcastle United CEO on the new manager:“We had a successio