There has been some discussion about Eddie Howe’s future at Newcastle, who sit 12th in the Premier League table.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe feels he is under pressure this summer. (Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe’s long-term future has been thrown into further doubt, with club chairman David Hopkinson offering no guarantees about his future. The pressure mounted on Howe after Newcastle’s 2-1 derby defeat to Sunderland in their previous match.
Hopkinson revealed he had a two-hour meeting with the manager immediately after the defeat at St James’ Park. Newcastle’s CEO outlined the expectations from the club’s hierarchy for the remaining seven games of the 2025/26 season during an interview with reporters at St James’ Park this week, when the club’s latest financial figures were discussed.
Newcastle announced an impressive performance despite the absence of European football, with the club’s turnover increasing by £15m to £335.3m and commercial income increasing by 44%, posting record profits. Profit after tax was £34.7m.
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The financial picture will look even brighter in 12 months’ time, with this season’s Champions League revenue set to be reflected in next year’s financial results, but no one at Newcastle needs to be reminded that failing to secure European football this term could seriously hamper the club’s financial momentum.
As a result, the pressure on Howe continues to mount, with the club languishing in 12th place in the Premier League table despite reaching the last 16 of this season’s Champions League. The focus on the head coach has intensified following the Tyne Wear derby defeat against Sunderland, but Hopkinson offered no guarantees about Howe’s long-term future. Instead, he stressed the importance of everyone at the club focusing on the short term, with away games against Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest coming closer to the end of the season.
When asked about Howe’s future, Hopkinson said: “I don’t have a stance on his future. All I can say is that the loss in Derby hurt. We’re taking it seriously. There’s nothing in us that thinks, ‘Well, we’ll just get three points and go.’ That resonated.”
“I recently had a few hours of one-on-one lunch with Eddie and we talked about this and many other things.
“Eddie is our manager and we expect him to do well until the end of the season here. We will talk about the future when the time is right. Right now we are focused on competing this season.”
Mr. Hopkinson was asked about his comments about Mr. Howe and whether he provided an open-ended response. “I’m not going to frame it that way (open-ended). I’m not thinking of making any changes at this point,” the chief executive said, backed by finance director Simon Capper, who was sitting next to him, and reaffirmed the need to ensure the safety of European football next season.
“We haven’t had those conversations. We’re still in the middle of the season. We’re focused on the seven games left right now and not getting distracted by speculation about what we’ll or won’t do in the summer.”
“We all only have enough bandwidth at the moment, so we are focused on finishing this season on a strong note.”
Newcastle United chief executive David Hopkinson did not discuss Eddie Howe’s long-term future. (Image: Serena Taylor, Newcastle United, via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, both Capper and Hopkinson made it clear that Newcastle should consider themselves a “trading” club, acknowledging that financial regulations make buying and selling absolutely necessary, and Howe said he was well aware of what lay ahead in the transfer window.
It comes as speculation grows over the future of several of Newcastle’s high-profile players, including Sandro Tonali, Tino Libramento and Bruno Guimarães, who could reportedly leave the club this summer.
Hopkinson said: “Eddie is experienced, thoughtful and understands the need to control team costs and maximize our opportunity to compete. Eddie wants exactly the same things as us and we’ve had a lot of dialogue with Eddie. What I can tell you is that he’s aligned and he understands this.”
Meanwhile, the club’s financial results highlighted significant progress since the Saudi-led takeover in 2021, with significant growth under Mike Ashley following years of stagnation. Mr Hopkinson claims the figures show the Magpies are well placed to realize their ambitions to achieve ‘world class’ status by 2030, but that they have been boosted by the sale of the St James’s Park lease and other assets to a company that forms part of its wider business.
A statement from the club said: “Newcastle United Limited has announced its financial results for the year ending June 2025, confirming record revenues and a 44% increase in commercial income as the club’s operational transformation continues.
“The 2025 financial results are underpinned by the successes on the pitch during the financial period, including the club winning its first domestic trophy in 70 years, finishing fifth in the Premier League and qualifying for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League.”
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“Despite not taking part in any European competition during the financial period, the club’s turnover increased by £15m to £335.3m. Profit after tax was significantly positive at £34.7m. A 44% increase in commercial income was the main driver. This was a key driver in overcoming the loss of revenue at Loppa. This was supported by investment in a new in-house retail business and the opening of a unique fan zone, ‘St James Stack’, next to St James Park.
“The club has also undertaken a restructuring of its real estate holdings and group structure to support future investment in infrastructure accounted for in accordance with FRS102 accounting rules. The 2025 financial results reflect a gain on disposal of £133.2 million, which will be adjusted slightly in the 2026 financial year based on the outcome of the Premier League’s fair market value process, which has now concluded.”
Hopkinson said in a club statement: “Our financial results reflect not only our strong progress on and off the pitch, but also the solid foundations that are being laid for the future we all want. Thanks to the continued support of PIF and the Ruben family, we are better placed than ever to invest in our long-term vision and set the conditions for sustained success.”
“Together with our supporters, staff, players and ownership, we move forward with ambition and a shared belief in what this club can become.
“These results predate my arrival, so I would like to express my sincere thanks to Darren Eales for his leadership and commitment during this important period of transition for the club. He has made a lasting contribution at a key stage and we are confident of building on that progress.”
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