Eddie Howe has been discussing his thoughts on a potential move away from St James’ Park, giving his verdict on a big decision facing our owners over the coming months.
After a Fan Advisory Board (FAB) meeting between supporters and senior club executives on Monday and comments from CCO Brad Millar confirming a decision will be made in “early 2025”, Howe was asked for his thoughts and admitted his “natural instinct” is to stay.
Howe said the prospect of moving elsewhere “feels a little bit of a betrayal to somewhere that’s served us so well” – a clear sign of what he’d prefer if it was possible to substantially revamp St James’ Park – but also admitted that the club must increase revenues and must make a decision for the “long term future of the football club.”
The boss admitted he “could be swayed” to move, but made it pretty clear he’d prefer to stay if it’s feasible to do so.
Howe said: “Well, I think it’s a difficult one for someone like myself when people want to know my opinion – but I’m not faced with all the facts. I’m not sort of hearing the pros and cons behind all the decisions.
“I think my natural instinct is always to stay at St James’ Park. It’s an incredible place to play football. It’s our home. So to sort of think about moving somewhere else feels a little bit of a betrayal to somewhere that’s served us so well.
“But we are well aware that as a football club, we need to increase our revenue, so people with more brain cells [than me] will make the decision for the benefit of the long term future of the football club – and that’s always the most important thing. So I could be swayed, but I feel my natural instinct is to want to stay.”
The stadium has changed so much over the years. Surely it’s the fans who make it what it is not the building.
PremAndUp(Quote)
It would seem its ‘either or’ Sentimental or Practical
Being one of the oldest on here you’d think I’d be on the sentimental side but I’m not.
I think to stay could only ever be a ‘make do and mend’ better to do the job right and prepare for the future.
This comes from my experience of having to sell our family home where me and my brother and sisters where born and lived through the war years. Moving away from the north east!
and at the age of 88 to have the home I had built over years taken by the Hs2.
Good luck what ever the choice!
nutmag(Quote)
I always enjoy Howe’s conferences with my toast and marmalade. He’s just so considered and articulate.
It must be difficult to get across some of his thoughts succinctly. You do seem to have missed an important element where he states clearly that he doesn’t possess all the facts and is not well placed to consider them all. In that respect it’s an unfair question which he also points out. Including that may have balanced the article which I interpret as he’s against moving.
That wasn’t my assessment of his thoughts which is he’d be sad to go but recognises it’s not his call.
On my own preference I grew up with SJP ( altho not it’s current guise) and have some very special memories that noone is taking away from me. Things change and nufc must evolve to position the club to be comoetitive
Jonesy(Quote)
It would be a massive missed opportunity and I’d be disappointed if we stayed it has to be a new state of the art stadium.
As others have said why make do, if you want us to stay put just go to the new grounds like the Emirates, city of Manchester stadium, Tottenham Hotspur stadium, London stadium or even the King Power to see how vastly superior they are to our ground. Tacking 8000 new seats on isn’t really going to cut it tbh.
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
Absolutely glorious has it spot on.
davewallace(Quote)
Spurs had £34 million match day revenues befor the new stadium
After it is now £136 million
Spending a billion to add 8000 seats is ridiculous .. they are near 40k on the waiting list for season tickets ,plus what a boost for the region economy with say a 75k ultra modern stadium … it’s a no brainer … move now if we want the region snd the club to move forward
Mike(Quote)
There is a lot of reasons to stay, but one major reason to move is. Where do we play when the work is being undertaken ? Where do the 52000 fans watch the matches? The obvious decision is to build a new stadium close by then move on completion. But we need approval on all options, that’s the main concern. A new stadium out of the city is a major issue, infrastructure roads, metro for fans aswell as loss of revenue to the city businesses. Let the design experts get on with it. Hwtl
Kiddafromthetoon(Quote)