Writing in his regular column in the Black 'n' White Official Matchday Programme, Newcastle United Chairman Chris Mort reflects on events at St.James' Park over the past 11 months ...

"In addition to the team playing much better football and getting much better results on the pitch, I am delighted with the progress we have been able to make this season off the pitch. With an executive director with responsibility for football and a second executive director focussed on the non-football operations of the club, we have put in place a structure which should help put the club in a position of strength and stability for the long-term.

"Dennis Wise and his recruitment team have been busy seeking out the best footballing talent across the country, elsewhere in Europe and further afield and we will see some of the benefits of those efforts this summer. In addition to strengthening the first-team squad, we will also continue to recruit younger players for the future to ensure the club is built on more stable foundations for the long-term.

"With many new recruits, including a new executive director - operations, financial controller, customer services manager and head of HR, we have sought to put in place a professional management team that can run the club highly effectively behind the scenes. Hopefully, supporters have already seen some of the benefits of this focus, with more efficient ticketing operations and more interaction with supporters.

"Two topics on which we get consistent feedback from supporters is for considerably more seating to be set aside for children in an affordable section of the ground, and to have an affordable section of the stadium where the noisiest of our supporters can congregate to give their vocal support to the team throughout the game. Although seating in the stadium is always a sensitive topic, we will seek to accommodate these wishes in the next round of season ticket renewals.

"One of the recruits which had the most immediate impact is Graeme Danby. Graeme is the acclaimed English National Opera performer who gave a rousing version of The Blaydon Races on the pitch before the Sunderland game. I asked the staff to find me an opera-singing Geordie who would wear the shirt, carry a large NUFC flag and walk down the pitch singing The Blaydon Races. Graeme was made for this task."