Eddie Howe sends warning to Newcastle as top England target breaks his silence on Three Lions links and reveals the dynamic with the club's new hierarchy has to be right for him to stay
- Eddie Howe emerged as one of the favourites to replace Gareth Southgate
- He has warned Newcastle that he needs to be happy with his working conditions
- His comments may have given Football Association figures much to consider
Eddie Howe on Friday warned Newcastle he needs to be happy with his working conditions if he is to reject an approach from England to stay at the club.
The 46-year-old said he must be ‘free’ to do the job in the way he wants under a new hierarchy that includes sporting director Paul Mitchell and performance director James Bunce.
Responding for the first time to questions about being the favourite to replace Gareth Southgate — who quit this week after England lost the Euro 2024 final to Spain — Howe said he was committed to Newcastle and wants to remain there, but only if he feels the support of those above.
‘As long as I am happy, feel supported, feel free to work in the way I want to work, I have not thought of anything else other than Newcastle,’ said Howe.
‘I absolutely love the club, I love the supporters, I love where I’m at in my career. There is no better place for me to be. That is how I feel.
Eddie Howe has warned he must be happy with working conditions at Newcastle to stay
Howe has emerged as one of the firm favourites to succeed Gareth Southgate as England boss
The FA are searching for Southgate's successor after his departure following Euro 2024
‘That’s always been my key driver — my happiness and my ability to do my job. I absolutely want to stay but it has to be right for me and the club.
‘There’s absolutely no point in me saying I’m happy staying at Newcastle if the dynamic isn’t right. I’m certainly not serving Newcastle well if I do that.
‘As a new team coming together (off the pitch), we have to set boundaries. We have to see if we can work together in a really fluid, dynamic way to the benefit of Newcastle.
‘There has been a lot of change at the club this summer. It has been a very difficult summer for everyone connected with the club. With change always comes a new feeling.’
