Newcastle chiefs vow to fight to keep Eddie Howe if England make an approach… as the Magpies boss emerges as a frontrunner to succeed Gareth Southgate
- Gareth Southgate’s nearly eight-year reign as England manager comes to an end
- Eddie Howe is expected to be among the favourites to succeed Southgate
- Mail Sport reported that Howe ‘has a decision to make’ if approached
Newcastle United’s board have vowed they will do everything they can to keep Eddie Howe if England want him as their next manager.
The Magpies manager is one of the favourites to replace Gareth Southgate and, as Mail Sport reported on Monday, a formal request from the Football Association would leave him ‘making a decision’ despite being comfortable and very happy on Tyneside.
Chief executive Darren Eales has revealed that Howe signed a new contract last summer – we understand it was an ‘amendment’ to his existing, long-term deal – and that compensation would be due, although there was no ‘fixed sum’. He says he has not spoken to the 46-year-old about England and expects him to be in charge at the start of the season.
Asked if the club would ‘fight to keep Howe’ in the event of a move, Eales said: ‘Yes, absolutely. To take a club that was 19th at the end of the first season to 11th and then secure a Champions League spot the following season is phenomenal.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with Eddie and seeing that man-management every day – on the pitch he’s very hands-on. He’s a great player developer. He understands 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.
Newcastle have vowed to fight to keep Eddie Howe should England make a move
Howe is seen as one of the favourites to become England manager after the departure of Gareth Southgate
Chief executive Darren Eales stressed the club’s commitment to Howe, who has signed a long-term contract
“For us he is exactly the right man for the project we are working on and that is why we are committed to a long-term deal with him. That is why we think he is the right man for Newcastle. This is the coach we want to lead the club for the future. He is committed to the club in the work he has done and what he has shown and we are obviously committed to him. We love him.”
Was there any compensation for the club in the new contract?
“It’s a multi-year deal and in those circumstances, as with any employee of ours, there will be compensation to be paid,” he said. “We don’t want to fire Eddie for all the reasons I’ve stated.
‘Everything we’re doing – bringing in Paul (Mitchell) (Sporting Director), James (Bunce), the Performance Director – in terms of how we talk about strengthening the squad, dealing with PSR, making sure we retain the core that we need to move forward and keep going with a lot of dialogue from Eddie – that’s what we want to do and we hope that in Eddie we’ve got a long-term coach who can take us to great things.’
Eales said Howe understands the psyche of the club and Newcastle and the fans
Eales says that, as with all top clubs, there is a ‘succession plan’ but that this has not been thought about recently.
“It’s one of those things you never want to use,” he said. “(It’s) something you have to think about if you’re organized, but right now we’re focused on getting ready for the season and the big season that’s ahead of us.
‘How can we turn that negative side of being really unlucky and finishing seventh and not making it to Europe into something positive? We have a chance this season to really attack competitions because we don’t have that distraction.’