A FORMER newspaper editor has been appointed to lead a football club’s business drive.

Brian Aitken has joined Newcastle United as head of corporate affairs.

Bosses say Mr Aitken, who was previously editor at The Journal, in Newcastle, will help bring the club closer to the North-East’s business community.

They added Mr Aitken will explore a partnership scheme aimed at getting the club further ingrained into local industry.

Mr Aitken, who set up a consultancy business after leaving The Journal in 2014, will work alongside Newcastle United’s head of business development, Nicole Atkin.

He said the job represented a fantastic opportunity to support the growth of the club, which is looking to return to the Premier League under manager Rafael Benitez.

He said: “Newcastle United is the biggest brand in the region; it is open for business, and open to business.

“Managing director, Lee Charnley, wants to position the club at the heart of the North-East’s business activities.

“It is exploring the formation of a business partnership scheme, to be fully up and running for the 2017-18 season and I want to talk to as many people as possible to hear what sort of member benefits they would like to see on offer.

“It's a fantastic concept and I'm looking forward to working with Lee, Nicole and the club's corporate sales and partnerships teams.

“With Rafael Benitez bringing the feel-good factor back to St James’ Park, there has never been a better time for the process to begin.”

Mr Charnley, who oversees the day-to-day running of the club on behalf of owner, Mike Ashley, said Mr Aitken will be pivotal in his plans to attract greater support.

He also said the club was keen to hear from local companies on how they could work together.

He added: “We’re excited to be bringing Brian on board; he is well-known and respected in the region.

“While the club has many close, established relationships with businesses, we recognise we have, in some respects, become disconnected from the North-East business community.

"We know we need to do more to be part of the vibrant entrepreneurial scene and to give businesses the opportunity to be part of the club.

"St James’ Park has the potential to sit at the very heart of regional business and we want to work closely with the business community to understand exactly what they need from us.

"We want to support regional businesses, both through their association with us and by giving them opportunities to do business in an exciting location.

“In turn we know the club will be strengthened by nurturing those relationships.”