Want the top news headlines sent to your inbox daily? Sign up to our FREE newsletter below Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Toon bosses are back in talks with council chiefs after a silence of almost three years.

Lee Charnley, managing director at Newcastle United, has been in talks behind closed doors with council leader Nick Forbes over how the club can work with Newcastle City Council to help promote the city.

It is believed Mr Charnley requested the meeting and the two organisations are hoping to build on the success of events such as the Magic Weekend which saw top sides take part in a Rugby League weekend extravaganza at St James’ Park.

The parties had not been in close contact following the attempt to change the name of St James’ Park to the Sports Direct Arena which saw Coun Forbes call on media to ignore the attempted rebrand as well as refusing to change street signage towards the ground.

The council leader was also an outspoken critic of the club over the Wonga sponsorship deal and it is understood neither club, nor council leader, remained in close contact following the rift.

(Image: PA Wire)

But now talks are back on after Mr Charnley organised a meeting with the council leader, and the Magpies are now looking to work with the city council to help promote the city around the world.

Coun Forbes said: “I am very happy that Newcastle United is helping Newcastle Council achieve its ambitions in promoting the city nationally and internationally as a great place to invest.

“I met recently with the club’s managing director Lee Charnley and we discussed how the council and the club can work together in future.

“Newcastle United is one of our most recognisable international brands and it will be great to have them on the team as one of the city’s star players when it comes to promoting Newcastle.”

Both club and council could be set to play on the strength of the team’s European stars to market the city to potential investors and with players from the Netherlands, France, Slovakia, Ireland and Spain as well as stars from Africa.

And it is believed potential deals could even see Toon stars acting as ambassadors for the city in when the council pitch investment opportunities.

The rift, which reportedly saw former managing director Derek Llambias confront Nick Forbes in his office, looks to have healed.

Mr Charnley, who took up his post last year has also taken a seat on the board at NewcastleGateshead Initiative - a body set up to help promote the city.

The news has been seen as a welcome move and follows figures which revealed international football tourists bring more than £22.6m a year to the region’s economy according to Visit Britain statistics.

Visitor numbers across the UK last year rose by around 50,000 and it is hoped by working together, and alongside organisations such as DFDS Seaways, which operates football packages in Dutch and German markets, the city could capitalise further on its footballing heritage.

Sarah Stewart, chief executive of NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “NewcastleGateshead Initiative has worked in partnership with Newcastle United Football Club for many years on the promotion of the destination to both domestic and international visitors.

“Football is a big reason why people visit NewcastleGateshead and having a premiership football club in the heart of the city is a great selling point for us as a visitor destination.

“The Rugby League Magic Weekend and the upcoming Rugby World Cup 2015, hosted at St James’ Park, are great examples of how partnership working across the city is reaping benefits for NewcastleGateshead and the wider region.”