Semore Kurdi building a bright Falcons future

Nov 12 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

After investing heavily in Newcastle Falcons, Semore Kurdi is already starting to lose sleep as he grapples with the problem of trying to restore the club to former glories

IF there is one thing nobody can accuse Newcastle Falcons of it is a lack of ambition. It is the difficulty in trying to realise those ambitions which are the cause for concern.

When Semore Kurdi formed a new ownership team with chairman Dave Thompson back in September, pumping in more than £2m of new investment for a 40 per cent stake, Falcons supporters sighed their relief.

For months there had been rumours of impending financial collapse at Kingston Park, but while the cash injection grabbed headlines, cleared debts and secured the club’s long-term future, there is far more to Kurdi’s investment than just money.

After only a few minutes in the company of Newcastle Falcons new investor, it is difficult not to believe the Falcons have changed for good.

His enthusiasm is infectious, the boldness captivating, his plans convincing. As far as the Tyne Valley entrepreneur is concerned, rugby union’s northern outpost will not only put its name back on the map, it will do it in big, flashing capital letters.

“I’m not just talking about Newcastle remaining as a Premiership club, that is the least of my ambition,” said Kurdi, who was asked to get involved by Thompson when he met the Falcons’ patriarch to complain about a couple of matchday issues.

“I can’t sleep at night I’m so excited, sometimes I don’t even bother going to sleep because I’m thinking about what can be done. I know I’ve made a great decision to get involved. I’m bouncing about in my skin when I think about what we are going to do.

“There is vast potential here and it is my aim to unlock it. I believe Newcastle can be as good a rugby club as any in the country.

“I want to get this club back to a position where, when we play the likes of Leicester, Wasps, London Irish or whoever, we don’t fear them. We face them knowing we are good enough to beat them.

“The Falcons can be a major force in English and European rugby, and that is what I’ve come on board to try and achieve.