Howe ‘committed’ to Newcastle amid England speculation
Eddie Howe has insisted his “unwavering” commitment to Newcastle will remain intact as long as he gets the support he needs to carry on his mission.
The 46-year-old was immediately installed as one of the bookmakers’ favourites to replace England boss Gareth Southgate, who announced his resignation on Tuesday in the wake of Sunday night’s 2-1 Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain.
However, Howe, who has been in charge at St James’ Park since November 2021, is adamant his current job remains the priority, provided he is allowed to continue to work in the way he believes best benefits the club after a summer of change on Tyneside.
Asked about the England situation at the Magpies’ training camp in Germany, the former Bournemouth boss told Sky Sports News: “It’s been a strange one for me because I’ve been absolutely cut off from it.
“Fortunately I’m out here, so it’s only through a mobile phone or someone telling me something that you hear about it.
“My commitment to Newcastle is unwavering and it has been since I came to the football club. As long as I have certain things for me – as in I’m happy, I’m allowed to work in the way I need to work in order to get the best out of me and I feel supported – then that will never change.”
Howe’s proviso is perhaps understandable. Close allies Amanda Staveley, who brokered the deal which led to her Saudi-backed consortium buying out previous owner Mike Ashley, and her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi have left the club and a new football board are now in place.
He will hope the dynamics which allowed him to drag Newcastle out of relegation trouble and lead them back into the Champions League in his first full campaign will not change dramatically, despite last season’s slightly disappointing seventh-place finish.
Howe said: “There’s been so much change that we need a period of time to know how we’re all going to work and set the boundaries.
“It’s for the benefit of Newcastle, not for the benefit of me because the club’s the most important thing in all of this. England is not important at all. It’s all about Newcastle United Football Club.”
Howe’s comments came as the Football Association published a job profile detailing the qualities required in the next England manager and revealed they had “already identified a number of candidates” to succeed Southgate, with former Chelsea and Brighton boss Graham Potter another featuring prominently in the betting stakes.
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