Newcastle United players and staff could only watch on in horror as a season of hard work went up in smoke during the FA Cup final.
Despite Manchester City being the overwhelming favourites to clinch the English double, the Red Devils did not read the script and were determined to cause a big shock.
The win for Man United means that Newcastle will not be playing Europe next season in a devastating blow for Eddie Howe’s side after they hoped seventh place would be enough to secure a Europa Conference League slot.
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A big dent for FFP and PSR at St James’ Park
The prospect of earning millions in Europe slipped away for Newcastle this afternoon. United would have earned around £2.5m for simply reaching the group stages Has Aston Villa gone all the way in the Europa Conference League they’d have picked up £12.25m in total this season.
With every pound relevant for Newcastle as they try to close the revenue gaps on the top teams, Europe was important and not qualifying is a major blow. CCO Peter Silverstone said only last month: “From a commercial perspective, just keeping the club at that European level is really important. It makes a big difference in terms of marketing and sponsorship deals when you can keep talking about us as a European side.”
UEFA co-effiicents set for a boost
The Magpies’ co-efficients with UEFA won’t be boosted in the 2024/25 season either. After over a decade out of Europe before last season’s return to the Champions League. Newcastle are ranked 83rd in Europe after last season’s efforts with a co-efficent of 8.000.
Given the likes of Man City are sitting on 148.000 points at number 1 in Europe, Newcastle have some catching up to do. Co-efficents help clubs improve their seedings for future draws so despite no Champions League finish, Newcastle’s return to continental competition would have benefited them on that score.
Bad news for Matt Ritchie and Paul Dummett?
Eddie Howe admitted on Friday night in Melbourne that there was a lot “riding on the cup final” not least for the long serving duo. He stated he did not risk them against the All Stars in the 8-0 loss because they are “out of contract”. Getting into Europe may have thrown them a lifeline to boost the squad.
But it’s difficult to see Howe getting his initial wish to hold on to the pair now.
Unsettling for star names
Bruno Guimaraes stated in spring that Newcastle had to “at least” get into Europe this season given their disappointments in other competitions. That was not a direct threat to leave but it will not exactly help matters if a big club who can offer Bruno a European fight comes in.
Any chance of this dark cloud having a silver lining?
Back in 1995, something similar happened to Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle side. Having finished sixth, Newcastle hoped for a Man United win over Everton at Wembley in the FA Cup final.
But a shock Paul Rideout goal meant Newcastle missed out on a European place. However, with no European football in 1995/96, the Magpies sustained a title challenge.
Storming to a 12 point lead at one stage they couldn’t win it but came back stronger to finish second and secured a return to the UEFA Cup. Howe’s team will now have more time to work on the training ground but a reset this summer will now take place.