Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said on Friday that he remains fully committed to the club as questions continue over his long-term future…
…adding that the only things he need to stay around and keep going is full support from the Magpies board. As if that wasn’t obvious.
Newcastle enter Sunday’s game against Crystal Palace sitting a horrid 13th in the Premier League. Against that background, CEO David Hopkinson clarified in March that the club was “not looking to make a change at the moment,”
while leaving the door blown open for a change this summer, not committing to Howe’s presence in Tyneside beyond the end of the season.
Speaking publicly for the first time since those remarks, Howe made clear his focus remains on the remainder of the campaign.
“For me, nothing has changed,” Howe said. “I’m absolutely 100% committed to the job. That commitment has never wavered from my side. I’ve been working during the break to make sure that we come back a stronger team. I think, in this day and age, it’s very difficult to look too far in the long-term. I can only look to these seven games and make sure that we perform at our very best level.”
Howe said he feels aligned with Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson and has not sought reassurances.
“I just need support,” Howe said. “Good working relationships with the people around me, a feeling of being able to express myself in the best way possible, so you see the best version of myself. If I feel that and the club feels that, they are getting the best manager that they can from myself. Obviously, if that’s not working, for whatever reason, on both sides, then it’s what’s best for the football club.
“The most important thing in all of this is Newcastle United. Not me, not anyone else, and I’ll always reflect that in my decision-making. I’ll put the club before anyone.”
Howe added he has “no issues” working within whatever financial or sporting conditions are set, provided expectations remain realistic, in which sounded like the ultimate plea to, please, whatever happens next, whatever you want me to do, I will no questions asked so I can keep visiting stadiums across the country for who knows how long more… even in detriment for the club?
Whatever. Newcastle are back in action against the Eagles, without Bruno, with Anthony Gordon likely doing his makeshift-striker job once more, and with the Magpies once again facing another drop down the table as has happened more often than not of late, with Buddy Eddie coaching.
