Eddie Howe has no plans to be sacked by Newcastle (Image: Getty)
Newcastle United officials have firmly rejected claims that Eddie Howe will leave the club at the end of the season. Suggestions by former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys that the head coach was “gone” were dismissed late on Saturday night. The message from St James’ Park remains the same: Howe maintains the support of the club’s upper echelons.
Howe did himself no harm by seeing off Brighton and Hove Albion in front of 52,000 supporters on Saturday. After the final whistle, Toon chief executive Yasir Al-Rumayyan headed to the dressing room area and reassured both the team and staff that the future was bright. After Al Rumayan appeared on the pitch alongside manager Jamie Reuben, PIF departed Tyneside and returned to Riyadh. The delegation returned to the Middle East after their visit to Tyneside and gave a boost to the club.
Howe was the first to arrive on Saturday morning and was also the last member of the players and coaching staff to return home, laying the foundations for next week’s training schedule and the next game against Nottingham Forest.
When asked what the Toon chief executive said to the group after the match, Howe replied: “After the game he spoke to the players and spoke very well about his plans for the future and how committed he and everyone is to the football club, long-term growth and exciting times ahead. So it was great to see that.”
Howe said on Friday: “I would have expected there to be unity within the football club, but of course, in my position, I have no illusions that we have to deliver to maintain that feeling, that strength, that confidence. That’s true no matter what moment we find ourselves in. I’m very aware that this job comes with responsibilities.”
However, according to Chronicle Live, there is a real recognition that Newcastle cannot afford to allow their recent poor form to continue and there will be no excuses next season.
Howe himself admits this and is hoping for a big improvement after dropping to the bottom half of the table.
Keys pointed to the screen with Howe’s name on it and said: “I think there will be big changes in the Premier League.
“I’ve made a lot of calls and talked to a lot of high-level sources, but I don’t think he (Howe) is gone anymore. I don’t think he’s gone anymore.
Howe is believed to continue to have the full support of the club’s Saudi owners. (Image: Getty)
“People were supporting LIV 10 days before he fell. I think he’s gone.”
However, it has since been reported that there have been no high-level discussions regarding Mr Howe’s future.
Newcastle’s leaders have also categorically denied that a media conference has been held suggesting Howe could be leaving the club.
Reflecting on the spirit within the team, Howe said: “I think we’ve been building towards that over the last few weeks. I think our training has been really strong, we’ve been really dedicated, we’ve been very competitive. And I believe if we continue to do well in our work, it will pay off in the end.”
“I commend the players for coming together, staying united and being great behind the scenes.
“That feeling and emotion of trying to rectify the situation, trying to find solutions and answers, it gets through to the players and connects with them in a different way.
“During difficult times, instead of getting angry or blaming, I try to focus on how I can solve the problem. I take responsibility for it.
“It’s been hard for my family to see this intimate side of me behind closed doors. I haven’t been a happy person for the past few weeks, so I’m happy for them too.”
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