Diamond is happy to stick with Newcastle

STEVE Diamond has committed himself to Newcastle longterm, as long he is wanted by the new owners when Semore Kurdi sells his stake in the Falcons.

- PAUL REES

Diamond joined Newcastle at the start of the year, initially as a consultant director of rugby following the departure of head coach Alex Codling, and has helped turn a club that had forgotten how to win into one that is looking up.

Kurdi is looking to get out after 13 years in charge when he has pumped more than £20m into Newcastle and Diamond said he is prepared to broker a deal with new investors.

“I am here for the long haul,” he said. “I have moved apartments and enjoy working at the club. When I joined there was no real direction, but now it is a buzzing environment where you need to have something about you.

“The momentum has changed with the help of the staff. I have shown in my career that I can get clubs out of the mire and I am really confident of putting a far better team out here next year on the same budget.

“We are spending £4m less than anyone else. If an investor comes in and I am their person to run the side, we would need to be spending to the full cap in three years.