Howe hits out at Paul Mitchell stories - “You can twist words to suit any narrative”

In a newly-released interview with Simon Jordan, Eddie Howe shut down media reports that he and Sporting Director Paul Mitchell don’t see eye to eye.

Presented as a ‘controversial’ appointment that upset the power balance behind the scenes at the club, Jordan hinted that Howe was “thrown under the bus” by Mitchell in regards to Newcastle’s recent shortcomings.

In response, Howe answered “I think there was a lot of noise in the summer. And I understand that this is the media’s job to blow things up, to make stories. The reality is, internally, it wasn’t like that.”

A common critique of Howe in recent times has been that he has a “pre-defined strategy” in the transfer market, which Jordan interprets as an “implicit criticism” of the Gaffer by the then-incoming Sporting Director.

“I will protect or stand up for our transfer business. I think it’s been really good. Excellent recruitment. It’s really difficult for me to comment on what Paul meant. Only he can sort of articulate that for you.”

The exchange between the pair intensified with Jordan quick to defend his comments before Howe expressed some frustration towards the media’s handling and reporting of the situation.

“Well you can twist words to suit any narrative," Howe added. "I’m sure Paul didn’t mean it (the criticism of our transfer business) like that, like the question you’ve just asked me.”

It’s a welcome suggestion that Howe and Mitchell are on the same page: with such a crucial transfer window ahead for the club, mutual agreements over direction and recruitment will go a long way in strengthening the Magpies in just the right areas.

Watch the interview in full below, where Howe speaks to Jordan about his early career, year out of the game, the reason he rejected Celtic and all things Newcastle United:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSyZgMHTpiU&t=69s&ab_channel=UpFront