Newcastle United’s new state-of-the-art training ground has a unique feature – a “Wheel of Fortune” fines board. Former Magpies player Shola Ameobi gave fans a tour of the upgraded facility on Tuesday, showing off the new cafeteria, games area, cinema, hydrotherapy pool, and foot-tennis table. The club’s Saudi owners have invested millions in their Benton HQ, which co-owner Amanda Staveley previously described as “really awful”, as they prepare for Champions League football. However, it was the giant wheel that caught supporters’ attention. The board is used by manager Eddie Howe to hand out fines and forfeits to players who are late for training, meetings or the team coach. The maximum fine is three figures, and it is kept low-key. French winger Saint-Maximin has regularly fallen foul of Howe and his predecessor Steve Bruce since signing from Nice in 2019. Midfielder Jonjo Shelvey revealed the 26-year-old “gets fined every day because he’s got earrings in”. Howe had to reprimand Saint Maximin last July for parking his Ferrari directly outside the training ground entrance in bays where there were clear “no parking” signs.
