Saudis have viewed secret plans for renovation of iconic home or costly new-build and could give go-ahead in weeks

They are early drafts and were circulated between only a chosen few but senior Newcastle United executives have been scrutinising architects’ drawings of both a Plan A and a Plan B.

These currently secret documents relate to a potential redevelopment of St James’ Park and the possible construction of a 70,000-capacity stadium in nearby Leazes Park. The consensus is that the former option would take at least five years to complete and the latter a minimum of seven.