Eddie Howe has been under increasing pressure after a difficult season with Newcastle in the Premier League, but has now agreed to hold talks with the club’s Saudi owners.
Eddie Howe opens up about meeting with Newcastle’s Saudi owner (Image: Getty Images)
Eddie Howe believes Newcastle’s Saudi owners remain firmly behind him and the club, but warned that “talk is cheap”. The Magpies have endured a difficult season this term.
Howe’s side sit 14th in the Premier League with four games left in the season, and their hopes for European football look increasingly remote. The Newcastle manager recently met with the club’s Saudi owners, the Public Investment Fund, and believes they will remain committed.
Speaking at the beginning of the meeting, he said: “It was an opportunity to meet people I hadn’t seen for a while. The owners and representatives of PIF have finished. It was a good, constructive meeting and they clearly care about the football club and the long-term plans that are underway at all levels. There are exciting times ahead and a long-term vision.”
“Nothing will change in terms of support and infrastructure. I’m happy with the level of support given to me, but I still understand how football works and I understand that I need results and that will never change.”
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Howe was speaking ahead of this weekend’s game against Brighton at St James’s Park and was asked about his role. He admitted he is comfortable, but knows he will be judged on results.
He added: “I’ve never needed clarity in my head in the sense that I’m here and I’m doing my job. That hasn’t changed. The football club needs to see that we’re going in the right direction. Arsenal are improving their performance and we need to see that tomorrow too. Talk is cheap and I have no illusions about the importance of tomorrow.”
Newcastle’s underperformance this season is significant considering the club finished fifth in the league last season. And Howe revealed the club’s owners remain committed to keeping Newcastle at the top of the table.
Eddie Howe endured a difficult season at Newcastle (Image: Getty Images)
He said: “The desire to reach the top of the Premier League and win as many trophies as possible consistently remains the same. I don’t think that will change as long as PIF is our owner, part owner or majority owner.”
“They are very ambitious for the football club. A lot of the things that need to be done to improve the club will take some time. We will get back to the stadium, the training ground and hope that their tenure will be long. These things are not going to happen by snapping your fingers because of course everything is tied to income.”
“Everyone wants to fast forward it, but sometimes it takes a little bit of time to do these things right. I don’t need to be reinvigorated. I’m energized. My motivation level is really high.”
“I think I’m learning a lot from this moment. I’m learning a lot right now. Sometimes the most disappointing moments are the ones where you grow the most because on difficult runs you really have to reevaluate everything and improve.”
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