Newcastle United entered the summer expecting major changes to its playing squad, but Eddie Howe’s departure caught everyone by surprise and presented the club with one of the most important moments of its recent history.
Although Howe’s timing for quitting was unexpected, to say the least, sporting director Ross Wilson has revealed Newcastle had already undertaken extensive succession planning long before Howe decided to leave, allowing the club to move quickly for Matthias Jaissle.
According to The
Athletic’s Chris Waugh, Wilson described the process to Newcastle’s scouting department as “almost like running two transfer windows,” with the search for Howe’s successor conducted in complete secrecy for two weeks alongside the club’s player recruitment.
“No, it never felt chaotic inside at all,” Wilson said. “Big respect to Eddie for the job he did for us over a long period of time. Bringing that trophy here means we would all describe him as a club legend.”
Howe left early in the preseason and in the middle of the transfer window, creating a ridiculous disruption in Newcastle’s preparations while the club was simultaneously attempting to overhaul a squad that ultimately received up to £300 million in investment across eight new signings.
Wilson acknowledged Newcastle did not anticipate having to make its coaching change at that particular stage of the summer, let alone after Howe committed to the club for another season at the end of last campaign.
The possibility of eventually replacing Howe, however, had been considered since Wilson arrived at the club.
“Eddie would tell you, since I came to the club, I’ve been planning in the background for a managerial change,” Wilson said. “Part of our responsibility as leaders of the club is to be prepared.”
That planning ultimately allowed Newcastle to identify Jaissle and complete its managerial transition while simultaneously pursuing an extensive list of transfer targets that fit, in some cases, both Howe and Jaissle’s preferences.
“Clearly the timing was not (what) we had planned for,” Wilson said. “But we had a plan in place, which is why we could execute it as quickly as we did.”
Does Newcastle’s pre-planned managerial succession give you more confidence in how the club handled Howe’s unexpected exit? Let us know in the comments below.
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