Newcastle United “love” Eddie Howe and will fight to keep hold of their head coach should the FA look to appoint him as the next England manager, insists Darren Eales, the club’s CEO.
Gareth Southgate resigned as England manager following the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, bringing an end to his eight-year tenure.
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Howe has long been admired by the FA and he is expected to feature prominently on any shortlist for the next national-team manager.
But Newcastle view Howe as part of the club’s “long-term future” and believe they are protected by the absence of a set release clause in the “multi-year” contract extension the head coach secretly signed last summer, having guided the club to a fourth-placed finish and Champions League qualification.
“Yes, absolutely,” Eales said, when asked if Newcastle would “fight” to retain Howe amid the “speculation” he termed it, given there has been no approach. “I don’t want to speak on hypotheticals so let me just step back and go, going into a new season, for us as a club Eddie has done a brilliant job.
“I’ve had the blessing to be able to work with Eddie and see how day-to-day and in terms of that man-management, on the grass, he is very hands-on. He’s a great developer of players. He gets the psyche of the club and Newcastle and the fans. We’ve seen that with the way the team and the supporters have that affinity.
“For us, he is exactly the right man for the project we are on at Newcastle United and that is why we are committed to a long-term deal with him. That’s why we think he’s the right man for Newcastle. We love him.”
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There have been no “recent discussions” between Eales and Howe regarding the head coach’s position, the CEO admits, despite them both being at Newcastle’s pre-season training camp at Adidas’ HQ in Germany.
The head coach is “committed and focusing on the season ahead”, however, says Eales, and has been planning for the new campaign with Paul Mitchell, the new sporting director.
Newcastle placed Dan Ashworth, their sporting director, on gardening leave in February and did not release him to Manchester United until they belatedly agreed a compensation fee. Eales is adamant the club will also hold out for adequate recompense, should the FA move for Howe and the head coach opt to go.
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“It’s hypothetical but he’s under a multi-year deal, there’s not a set number (for compensation), it’s about he’s our employee so from that perspective we’re not looking to release Eddie for all the reasons I’ve spoken about,” Eales said.
“He’s a top coach, he’s the right coach for Newcastle United at the right moment and this is the coach we want to lead the club for the future.”
Pushed as to whether he expected Howe to be in the dugout for the opening Premier League match of the 2024-25 campaign against Southampton on August 17, Eales said: “Absolutely, yes.”
On whether there is a “succession plan” at Newcastle in case Howe leaves, Eales was noncommittal but suggested there was.
“It’s one of those ones you never want to use it,” Eales said. “Something that when you’re organised, you’ve got to be thinking about it. But for us, at the moment, we’re focused on pre-season and a big season ahead for Newcastle United.”
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(MARTIN KEEP/AFP via Getty Images)
