Howe responds to Mitchell interview, ‘civil war’ claims, January & James Bunce questions

On the back of Paul Mitchell’s big interview last week and a frustrating end to a poor summer at Newcastle, Eddie Howe was asked about our sporting director and transfer strategy today.

Howe was quizzed on Mitchell’s claim that our previous approach to transfers hasn’t always been ‘fit for purpose’ and reports from The Mail’s Craig Hope suggesting there is a ‘civil war’ behind the scenes.

“Absolutely not in my experience” was Howe’s response to the ‘civil war’ claims, but he did defend Newcastle’s previous transfer business before Mitchell’s arrival, feeling the “results were very good”, no matter what people may think of the structures in place.

Asked about Mitchell’s interview, Howe said: “Well, I think it’s really important there is transparency from the club and the financial situation that we have is not only discussed by me because, with all due respect to me, I’m not a numbers and figures guy. I’m a football man.

“That isn’t my field of speciality, and I don’t pretend that it is. So I think it’s good that we have different people communicating about those areas.”

On Mitchell’s ‘fit for purpose’ comment, Howe added: “I think a few things on that. I’m very, very proud of every single player that we signed in that period. It is very easy to look back at any transfer window and make a judgement on the players you have signed three years down the line.

“But you have to go back to the situation when we were in those moments, in the relegation zone and trying to recruit players. That is not an easy thing to do. You’re also recruiting not just for the short term, but for the long term. When you look back, that work was good.

“Our objective was to stay in the league, so I’m not going to critique every signing, but I’m very, very proud of the body of work that we did and the players that we have now from the legacy of those transfer windows.

“We love them to bits. So I think it’s about when you’re in that moment and the decisions that you made. I think everyone can hold their heads up very high. Whatever you think about the structures, I think the results (of our recruitment) were very good.”

Howe was then asked about Mitchell’s comment that he played a ‘supporting role’ over the summer, saying: “I don’t think it’s right for me to make individual comments in reply to Paul’s press conference. I don’t think that will help our current situation. It’s best for me to focus on the future.

“I’ve had no contact from Paul (since the interview) But I don’t think that’s unusual. We’ve got different jobs to do. I’m focusing on the football and the team, and he’s obviously focusing on his role.”

There has been suggestions that Howe and Mitchell are already planning for January, but the boss insists there has been ‘no discussions’ as of yet on the winter window:

“No, no discussions yet towards January. No further discussions on anything. It is about unity. And it is about coming together now and making sure we focus on this time at the moment. For me, it is all about the games and trying to get the players fit.”

New performance director James Bunce was also discussed by Howe, who praised the job he’s done so far: “James has worked really well. I have to say I think he’s been impressive. Since he came in, he’s very passionate, hard working, and bold.

“He’s been involved from the very start of the planning phase of training to the execution. He gives us really detailed analysis afterwards as well, so I think he’s been a great addition to the team.”