Eddie Howe contract extension revealed as Newcastle United CEO addresses England talk
Gareth Southgate announced on Tuesday morning that he had stepped down as manager after almost eight years in charge. During that time, the former Aston Villa and Middlesbrough defender has taken charge of 102 matches, guiding the Three Lions to the World Cup semi-finals and back-to-back European Championship finals.
Given Howe’s nationality and his achievements at St James’ Park since being appointed in November 2021, the FA are understood to have added him to their shortlist. But Eales has warned that Howe is going nowhere.
In an interview with journalists just hours after Southgate’s resignation, Eales said:
- Howe signed a new multi-year contract last summer
- Newcastle will fight to Howe if England come forward
- Backed Howe to lead the Magpies to “great things”
- Expects him to be in charge for the first game of the Premier League season against Southampton
Here is everything Eales had to say on Howe’s future:
What is the club’s stance on Eddie Howe amid England speculation?
DE: “It is speculation. Obviously Eddie has been an amazing manager at the club. He’s committed to the club and the work he has done and what he has shown, we’re obviously committed to him. We had a multi-year extension last summer. We’re on an exciting journey and as far as we’re concerned, Eddie is the man to lead us on that journey. So from that perspective, there’s nothing really I can add.”
Has Eddie spoken to you or committed himself to Newcastle?
DE: “We’ve not had recent discussions. What Eddie have been doing in that interim period between Dan [Ashworth] leaving and Paul [Mitchell] coming in is obviously there’s been a lot of discussions going on. As far as we’re concerned we’re focused on the new pre-season, excited to be here in Adidas HQ getting ready for the new pre-season.
“As you know with Eddie, the smile on his face when he’s out there with the players. This is what he loves, the two-a-days, working with the players. From that perspective he’s committed and doing what you’d expect from Eddie which is focusing on the season ahead.”
If the FA did ask to speak to him, would the club’s attitude be ‘we aren’t interested, we want to keep’ him?
DE: “I don’t want to deal with hypotheticals. As I mentioned he’s on a multi-year extension that was signed last summer so from that perspective he’s a Newcastle United employee.”
Are there any worries from your side that Eddie might go?
DE: “The first thing to say is that in any organisation if you are performing well there will be speculation from other clubs. But Eddie is under a long term contract with he club. You see him, he loves the day to day of club football and we have an exciting project here in terms of the commitment form the ownership and the journey we want to go on.
“We are really excited about this season ahead. There is the disappointment of not making Europe, but the fact is we have the advantage of going Saturday to Saturday and not having the distractions of European football. We saw that the season before when we had that amazing year and qualified for the Champions League. We have the core of a great squad, a new cycle of PSR, and with Paul Mitchell coming in as Sporting Director we will hopefully strengthen the squad where we can, while being smart and innovative about that.”
You said Eddie signed a new contract last summer. Is that right? Signed one two summers ago, so is that right?
DE: “Yes.”
Can you say how long it’s for and is the club covered in terms of compensation?
DE: “I don’t want to talk on it but it’s a multi-year deal and in those circumstances like any employee from us, there will have to be compensation paid.”
If he wants to go will you fight to keep him?
DE: “Yes, absolutely. 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 wasn’t here at the start but when you look at it from the outside in terms of where the club was and to take a club that was in the position, 19th to eleventh at the end of that season and then to kick on into a Champions League spot the following season is phenomenal.
“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.”
As it stands now do you see him in the Newcastle dugout for the first game of the season:
DE: “Absolutely, yes, all I can say is I’ve spent the last three months with Eddie, with Dan when he left in terms of very hands on in terms of how we’re planning for Newcastle United for the season ahead.
“He is someone who demands a work rate. We have our meetings at 7am because that’s the best time to get Eddie in terms of starting his working day. That’s what I love about him. He is a – I’m not going to name names but there have been managers who I worked with who couldn’t wait to get away from the training ground – Eddie is the absolute opposite.
“Part of the importance of Paul coming in with `Eddie is to let Eddie do the strengths he’s got and take away from him some of the things that if it was Eddie he would spend all his time and every waking hour on.
“What we have to do is channel Eddie onto what he does best and that is on the grass, with that he is phenomenal in terms of putting that team together and then as a club that is what we are trying to do with hires like Paul Mitchell.
“From the performance perspective, it’s about what can we do to help Eddie. It is all about recruitment perspective or an academy and who we are bringing thought the pipelines or an availability from an injury.
“How can we help Eddie to have the tools to out the best possible team out there. We know in Eddie we have a great coach who can lead us onto great things.”
You said you would fight to keep Eddie. If FA agree compensation, Eddie wants to go, you’re powerless?
DE: “Again, it’s hypothetical but he’s under a multi-year deal, there’s not a set number, 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.
“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. I think from that perspective, you’re right. Everything we’re doing – Paul coming in, James [Bunce] coming, the performance director, in terms of how we talk about strengthening the squad, dealing with PSR, making sure with a lot of dialogue from Eddie we’re retaining that core squad that we need to go forwards and kick on – that’s what we’re looking to do and that’s what we’re hoping with Eddie we’ve got a coach for the long-term.”
Have you given thought to a succession plan if it was to happen?
DE: “It’s one of those ones you never want to use it. Something that when you’re organised you’ve got to be thinking about it but for us at the moment, if I’m honest we’re focused on pre-season and a big season ahead for Newcastle United.
“We’re here at Adidas HQ and it’s about making sure the pitch is cut to the right grass level, that’s what Eddie is focused on, it’s what we’re focused on, how can we get the best out of this pre-season because it’s going to be really important to us.
“I spoke about it earlier, how do we take that negative of being really unlucky and finishing seventh and not making Europe and turning it into a positive. We have a chance this season to really attack competitions because we don’t have that distraction.”
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