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Newcastle United managing director Lee Charnley will leave the club after handover period to new owners after 20 years' service at St James' Park

Newcastle United managing director Lee Charnley will leave the club after agreeing to stay on for a handover period only under the new owners.

Sportsmail has been told that an amicable agreement has already been reached between Charnley and Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-backed group that will see him depart St James’ Park after more than 20 years’ service.

The 42-year-old has been Mike Ashley’s man in charge of the day-to-day running of the Magpies since 2013 having previously served as club secretary.

Lee Charnley (right) will be leaving Newcastle after a handover period to the new owners
Charnley is well liked, but fans have always seen him as the right hand man of Mike Ashley

Charnley has been the link between manager and owner during that period and was often caught in the middle when that relationship became fractious, especially in the case of Ashley and former boss Rafa Benitez.