Eddie Howe has been speaking to the press this afternoon for the first time since our final game of the 2023/24 season back in May.
As expected, he took questions on the reports linking him with the vacant England job and his response was clear – “I absolutely want to stay, but it has to be right for me and the football club.” Based on his comments below, it seems he is happy at the club and fully prepared to stay, but wants assuranves moving forward if he is to reject any offer from the FA.
Speaking to Sky Sports’ Keith Downie from our training camp at Adidas’ HQ in Germany, he said: “My commitment is unwavering and has been since the day I came to the football club. As long as I have certain things for me. As in, I’m happy and I’m allowed to work in the way that I feel I need to work to get the best out of me, and that I feel supported. Then that will never change.
“There’s been so much change that I think we need a period of time to set the boundaries and get to know how we are all going to work. For the benefit of Newcastle, not for the benefit of me. The club is the most important thing in all of this. England isn’t important at all. It’s all about Newcastle United. Nothing will ever unsettle me from my job. I’m tunnel vision and have been all summer. And that will continue.”
Asked if he was confident he’d receive the assurances needed to stay, Howe added: “With the quality of people that have come in i certainly believe that will be the case. I hope so. But it’s got to work for everybody.
“It’s all about Newcastle United — I’m so proud to be manager. I feel I have such a special relationship with the fans and I’m fiercely determined to win a trophy for them. I hope we are able to achieve our objectives together.”
"I'm honoured to be manager of Newcastle United, I hope that's for many, many years" ⚫⚪
Eddie Howe has spoken to @Raisbeck10 for the first time about England management speculation.#NUFC | #England | #BBCFootball
— BBC Sport Tyne & Wear (@bbcnewcastle) July 19, 2024
As long as I remain happy & feel support I’ll remain Newcastle manager – that doesn’t sound very convincing now does it?! 😳🫣
Sharpy17(Quote)
Seems to me that he’s telling Mitchell and Bunce that it’s his team, playing his way, so support that fine, try to take over and I’m off.
By the way, just read a stupid article that said that if he left it might be a good thing because then we could bring in an elite manager, which sounds fine until they suggested Poch who is definitely a backward step.
PremAndUp(Quote)
He addresses that as well by saying there has been a lot of change at the club recently, boundaries etc.
It’s pretty normal to feel like that in any walk of life when things change where you work.
From the Mitchell interview i can’t see there being an issue and like he said this summer is a summer of change and need a period of calm and stability.
The sky interview is better than the BBC one
Porkpie(Quote)
Hard to pick out anything but what a very smart and talented individual would say when he knows he’s onto a good thing while fully aware his ceiling is high to try other things.
It would’ve been presumptuous to say anything about accepting / turning down an offer form the FA for the simple reason there isn’t any offer to consider.
Jonesy(Quote)
Sounds like ..I love everything and everybody .. but if I don’t get my own way .., Howe should recall he was 2nd on a list of managers .. Emery was first .. last season he took us backwards .. if he can’t work for the benefit of the club and his ego gets in the way then get rid .. plenty of great managers and winners out there who would love this project
Mike(Quote)