Diamond '100% confident' of Newcastle investment

Steve Diamond (R) has been with Newcastle since January this year

Newcastle Falcons consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond says that he is absolutely confident that new investment will come into the club.

Diamond admits that the Falcons are actively in the market for fresh investment as they try to bridge the financial gap between themselves and the rest of the Premiership.

"I am absolutely confident, I'm 100% confident," he said. "I don't think it will be tomorrow, but over the next two or three months, the phone will be ringing."

On the pitch, Newcastle beat Saracens for their second Premiership win in three games and fifth in six matches in all competitions as they repair the damage caused by 25 straight league defeats.

Diamond arrived at Kingston Park in January and after months of suffering, they finally ended a run of 581 days without a win in the Premiership as they beat Exeter Chiefs on 18 October.

Since then, there have been increasing signs of green shoots of recovery on the field with victory over Sarries a showcase as to what is possible given that the Falcons are operating well below the salary cap in comparison with the other nine clubs and running with a streamlined first-team squad of 38 players.

Currently, local businessman Semore Kurdi is the Falcons' majority shareholder but is open to selling some or all of his stake in the club if the right offer comes along.

Diamond revealed that both he and captain Callum Chick spoke to the squad in the build-up to the Saracens game, emphasising that the current period can be a shop window for the club's potential.

"Can you imagine if we do get investment how good we would be," he said.

"Imagine spending twice the amount of money we do, like all the other clubs. It would be fantastic, wouldn't it, and that's what we're looking to do."

Newcastle Falcons have won successive Premiership games at Kingston Park for the first time since January 2023

'We know what we're doing'

There was a season's best crowd of 6,187 under the lights at Kingston Park as Newcastle delivered a significant statement.

Throw in the elements and it added up to a very north east experience and it is that identity which Diamond believes can be a key attraction.

"Newcastle has this uniqueness about its personality with sport," he said.

"I went to St James' Park for the football the other night and the atmosphere in the city is brilliant. It's a real sporting city.

"We don't want the sort of investor who is just coming in for ego, we want someone who is going to build things in the community - an academy, a community department, a foundation and fly the flag for the north east.

"The identity can be an attraction, but it's how we sell the club and where we can take the club.

"We won't be self sustainable, we will need investment, but ultimately the person or organisation coming in will see that we know what we're doing. That is really important for us and them."