It was a summer of widespread change at Newcastle United with high profile exits and an unfamiliar air of uncertainty on Tyneside. Those changes weren’t simply restricted to the men’s team, with Becky Langley and her women’s side also left to deal with the aftermath of some big-name departures.

Langley’s assistant, Andy Cook, bid farewell to Tyneside to take the Norwich City Women job, while Chris Stygal, the women’s goalkeeping coach, also left Newcastle. Amanda Staveley, a huge champion of the women’s team and game as a whole, left St James’ Park as the club mourned the tragic passing of long-term and much-loved photographer Colin Lock.

Losing Staveley, very much the public face of the 2021 takeover, was a killer blow. She has been at the forefront of key decisions taken at the highest level but despite a vast amount of responsibility with the men’s side, the financier never shied away from helping grow the women’s side too.

Whether it was rousing dressing room speeches, title-winning celebrations on the pitch, or advice and friendship behind the scenes, Staveley played a vital part in the back-to-back promotions for Langley and her team. Now, they enter the second tier hoping to carry on her legacy as they kick on further.

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“I think I’ll never shy away from saying that Amanda was unbelievable with myself and the women’s team,” Langley told reporters ahead of this weekend’s season opener with London City Lionesses. “She was a massive advocate for the women’s team. She was a great support to me, and is a great woman, so hopefully we’ll stay lifelong friends with Amanda for everything she’s done for the team.

“Obviously we’ve got to move on positively – and her legacy will live on definitely with the women’s team. I think we understand clubs make decisions and people make decisions for the right reasons and we accept that decision and we’ve just moved on from it, really.

“But I think the girls again, like myself, really respected Amanda and saw how much she brought to our women’s team across the two to three seasons – so the only thing we have for her is utmost respect.

“We’ve had some great moments with her, won the league and other highs and lots of good fun along the way. So we’ve all got really good memories.”

Staveley has gone, along with former sporting director Dan Ashworth, and Newcastle were left to subsequently move quickly in finding experienced heads to fill those boardroom vacancies.

Paul Mitchell arrived in June, as Ashworth’s replacement, with an incredible track record at some of Europe’s biggest outfits. His brief is wide-ranging and he has not enjoyed the easiest of transition periods after an underwhelming summer of transfer arrivals for the men’s side.

Given Mitchell has had to forge a new relationship with Eddie Howe, monitor PSR, hold negotiations for key targets, among a vast array of other jobs, it would have been easy for the new hire to have put the women’s team on the back-burner until things had settled down post-transfer window.

However, Mitchell has done nothing of the sort as he looks to facilitate the women’s side becoming ‘leaders’ in the game within five years. As such, Langley was full of compliments for the new Magpies chief.

“With Paul Mitchell and James Bunce, their energy has been really high,” Langley added. “They’ve been really supportive with myself and the team. Paul was at today’s session, which was fantastic to have him down.

“They’ve been incredibly supportive and they’ve kept checking in across the preseason which has been tough because we’ve played quite a few women’s teams and it’s a learning curve. We want to face those dents in the preseason. So when they come in the season, we’re prepared.

“I think I’m really energised by their commitment so far to the women’s team. I think there’s a real genuine interest to help.

“I was laughing earlier because Paul and I send each other quite a few voices and it’s just really good because it’s great advice that he gives post game – and I send him my hot and cold reflections of the match. He and James have been very supportive.”

No side have ever risen from the fourth tier to the Women’s Super League in successive seasons, hinting how tough this campaign will prove to be for Langley and her team. However, the Lady Magpies have added experienced heads and exciting new arrivals to their squad in the hope they can give the division a real good go as they look to continue their upward trajectory.

“I think we’d be naive if we were to be shouting from the rooftops we want to win promotion this season,” Langley added. “I think we’ve got to be mindful of the context; it’s our first season in the Championship for a lot of players and for myself, so we’ve got to do a lot of learning and take it step-by-step.

“At the same time, I don’t approach any game not wanting to get three points and not preparing the team to the best of my ability to ensure that we do compete for those three points.”