Eddie Howe confirmed on Monday that he will walk away from his role as Newcastle United manager the moment he no longer believes he is the right person to lead the club.
Following a ridiculously bad run
of results, including endless Premier League losses and elimination from the Carabao Cup, Howe is starting to feel the heat under his seat.
Speaking after Saturday’s 3–2 home loss to Brentford and before facing Tottenham on the road on Tuesday, Howe gave an honest assessment of Newcastle’s situation as they slipped to 12th in the table after three straight league defeats.
“There’s no doubt in my mind I’m the right man and that’s why I’m sat here,” Howe said. “If there was, then I wouldn’t be, because the club’s the most important thing. I’d never put myself before the club.”
Newcastle will look to win an EPL game for the first time in five matches against Tottenham, in what would be their first away victory since December.
“The club’s always No 1,” Howe said. “From my perspective, I’ve got to think that I am the right person for the job and I’m giving value and I’m helping the players.”
Howe admitted frustration with recent performances and said he had been angry with himself after the Brentford defeat.
“So as long as I feel that in my heart and in my spirit, then my desire and my motivation levels are as high as they’ve ever been,” Howe said. “But that’s the key question I always have to ask myself.”
The gaffer made it clear there would be no hesitation if that belief changed, hinting at an abrupt exit as soon as that moment arrives.
“If I didn’t think I was the correct man to take the team forward and could give the players what they need, then I would step aside and let someone else do it,” Howe said.
Whether or not Howe reveals his true feelings, relents, and accepts defeat in order to leave NUFC on his own is a whole different thing. We can only wait and see.
