Newcastle will leave St James' Park! Magpies launch plans for 'super stadium' with 'bubblewrap exterior' as Saudi owners green-light emotional exit from spiritual home

The Daily Mail reports that the UK Government is expected to give their plans to move from St James' Park to Leazes Park the 'green light', in a project that will 'create hundreds of jobs and pour money into the local economy'. The stadium is reportedly set to have a 'bubble-wrap-type exterior' and will still be in the city centre.

Newcastle have played at St James' Park since 1892. It is one of the most iconic stadiums in the British Isles and for many Newcastle fans it will be gut-wrenching to say goodbye to it. But with thousands on the waiting list for season tickets and matchday tickets hard to come by, moving to a bigger ground may be the best option to help the club grow. The exact cost of this is unknown.

The report adds that there were tentative plans to redevelop St James' Park but that has now been shelved and the goal is to move to Leazes Park. The club's Saudi Arabian owners were presented with the plans last month and chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan is said to be 'fully behind the project'.

The next step for Newcastle is to continue talks with local authorities and the government before these plans can properly take shape.