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Lee Charnley has restructured Newcastle United ‘under the radar’ over the summer, according to the new head of corporate affairs Brian Aitken.

Former Journal editor Aitken, who was appointed in the summer to help build bridges between the city’s business community and the football club, told the North East Times that the club is on an upward curve and determined to reach out to the community again.

It’s another refreshing message at a time of positivity, and Mr Aitken is a good fit for the role, having cultivated a sizeable contacts book in his former role with ncjMedia.

He says that it was Charnley’s restructuring of the club – which goes beyond simply appointing Rafa Benitez as manager – which persuaded him to join the Magpies in the new role.

United have appointed a head of business development and have reconfigured the board too since Benitez took over.

Mr Aitken told the North East Times: “It’s almost gone under the radar, but Lee has been busy restructuring the club – it’s not just been about keeping Rafa Benitez as manager and it’s not just about what happens on the pitch.

“What Lee has said and done has given me the confidence to join the team and get involved.

“I am mainly working with Nicole Atkin, the head of business development, and Dale Aitchison, the head of partnerships, but my role sees me work across all the departments.”

United were accused of losing touch with the city, its people and the local community during some dark years when Newcastle hit the headlines for banning newspapers and withdrawing from the institutions of the local region.

But Mr Aitken says that attitude has changed – and their reputation can be reclaimed: “In simple terms, there is a view that Newcastle United has had the drawbridge up for a few years now.

“We need to let people know that not only is the drawbridge down but that there is a welcome mat at the front door.

“Many people have a view that the club had become complacent and simply sat back and waited for people to come and do business with them.

“I don’t know if that was perception or reality but, thankfully, there is an acceptance internally that the club has to change things, to raise its game.

“Lee is very keen to have an open dialogue with business and for the club to take its rightful place at the North East business table – and I am here to help with that.”

Of course, he has arrived at a good time. The appointment of Benitez gave Newcastle fans hope after their damaging relegation, and Mr Aitken admits he is pushing at open doors in his new role.

“Yes, Rafa has made a major difference. Every time I hear something about what he has done, he rises in my estimation,” he told NE Times.

“The impact of the so-called Rafalution is enormous and the levels of optimism are higher now than they have been for years – despite the drop to the Championship. That optimism is infectious and makes my job a little easier.

“Getting promotion would mean winning matches and that success would be brilliant for the club and the region.

“But my work is about building relationships that will last through good times and bad.”