Newcastle chief addresses speculation over Eddie Howe’s future
The pressure has ramped up on Eddie Howe after Newcastle were thrashed by Barcelona and lost to Sunderland before the international break
Newcastle United chief executive David Hopkinson has indicated there are no immediate intentions to replace head coach Eddie Howe , despite a challenging season for the club. However, Hopkinson refrained from offering a definitive guarantee regarding Howe’s long-term tenure beyond the current campaign. The Magpies have endured a difficult period in the Premier League and currently sit 12th in the table, seven points adrift of the fifth-place finish they achieved last season.
This comes after reaching the Champions League knockout stage and progressing to the latter rounds of both the Carabao and FA Cups. Speaking as the club unveiled its latest financial figures, Hopkinson addressed questions about Howe’s future, acknowledging a degree of disquiet among sections of the fanbase following a bruising European exit at the hands of Barcelona and a defeat by derby rivals Sunderland before the international break. He stated: "Eddie’s our manager.
I expect to have a great run to the end of the season here and we’ll talk about the future when it’s time. " Hopkinson refused to guarantee Howe will still be at Newcastle next season (PA) When pressed for clarification, Hopkinson added: "We are not looking to make a change at the moment. We are not having those conversations.
We are still in the midst of the season. “Right now, we are focused on the seven matches we have remaining and not distracting ourselves with speculation about what we may or may not do in the summer. " The prospect of failing to secure European football for next season could have significant repercussions for Newcastle’s finances and personnel.