Newcastle CEO Darren Eales confirmed his diagnosis of a 'chronic' blood cancer. (Image: Getty.)
Newcastle CEO Darren Eales will be stepping down from his role at St James' Park after being diagnosed with a chronic form of blood cancer.
Eales, 52, joined the Magpies in August 2022, 10 months after their takeover by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, and will continue in his position until a successor is found.
"Being CEO of Newcastle United is an extraordinary privilege and I am incredibly proud to be part of the club's exciting journey," he said in a club statement. "However, it has become apparent to me that now is the right time to make this decision so that I can prioritise my health and my family.
"In the short term, it will be business as usual in terms of running the club's day-to-day operations, and I will give my full support to a transitionary period that will enable the board to carefully assess and appoint my successor.
"I want to extend my sincere thanks to the club's supporters, ownership, players and staff. I'm proud of what we have collectively achieved and I'm excited to see what's ahead for everyone as the club builds towards a future of sustained success."
Eales arrived in the north-east after nearly eight years in charge of MLS side Atlanta United, where he oversaw their growth from a new expansion team to one of the division's leading forces.
Darren Eales at Newcastle's away match to Fulham last week. (Image: Getty)
At Newcastle, Eales played a crucial role in the club achieving Champions League football under Eddie Howe, while also firming up plans for a stadium redevelopment.
He is a popular figure at the club and his absence will be felt by many, with the outpour of well-wishes serving as evidence of the impact he made after just over two years as CEO.
Newcastle chairman, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, added: "All of us who are connected with Newcastle United are very saddened by this news. Our thoughts are with Darren and his family and we send him every good wish for a full recovery. On a personal level, Darren has been a great partner to me and to our fans, players, ownership and staff.
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"On behalf of the club and its owners, I want to thank Darren for his service and dedication to Newcastle United. He has made a significant contribution to the club's progress during his time as CEO, helping to build a strong foundation for Newcastle United's success. We fully understand the difficult decision he has made.
"We will work closely with Darren to hand over the CEO role at the appropriate moment following a carefully considered search process, and he will continue to have the full support of the board and the Newcastle United family now and in the future."
