Eddie Howe and the Newcastle United first-team squad are currently at the Adidas headquarters in Germany, preparing for the new season at the world-class Adidas facility.
Also out in Germany are the club’s executive team.
Newcastle United CEO Darren Eales, CCO Peter Silverstone, Sporting Director Paul Mitchell, plus Performance Director James who has just been reunited with Mitchell, the pair having most recently worked together for three years at AS Monaco.
Completing the picture, also out in Germany is Newcastle United board member Jamie Reuben, his family now having increased their shareholding to 15% with the departure of Amanda Staveley and sale of her shares, Saudi Arabia PIF now owning 85% of NUFC.
With Amanda Staveley stepping down from all her positions at the club, that will leave Jamie Reuben as the only UK-based board member as the Reuben family representative, with NUFC Chairman and Saudi Arabia PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, plus what are assumed to be two other Saudi Arabia PIF nominees making up the rest of the Newcastle United board, Abdulmajid Ahmed Alhagbani and Asmaa Mohammed Rezeeq joined the board in 2023 but have remained very much in the background.
From Germany this week, Newcastle United CEO Darren Eales gave a major interview speaking to journalists on a Zoom call, as well as interviewed by the club’s own official media (NUFC TV).
That was then followed by Paul Mitchell on Thursday, the new Newcastle United Sporting Director giving his five-year vision to what he sees as possible working alongside Eddie Howe, with the backing of the Newcastle United owners.
Now today, Friday, it is the turn of Eddie Howe.
Ahead of the squad flying back on Saturday from Germany to Tyneside, there is a media day, with a number of journalists who regularly report on Newcastle United, having been invited to fly over and amongst other things, speak to Eddie Howe.
Ahead of the squad flying back on Saturday from Germany to Tyneside, there is a media day, with a number of journalists who regularly report on Newcastle United, having been invited to fly over and amongst other things, speak to Eddie Howe.
So today, we will hear the answer to the England question from Eddie Howe, one way or another.
I can’t believe that this will be anything other than an ‘I’m staying with Newcastle United’ reply, when Eddie Howe is asked the question, as for sure he will be, a number of times!
How much detail he will go into is an unknown, whether Eddie Howe will or won’t confirm whether he and/or the club has had an approach about the England vacancy.
It would be astonishing if there hasn’t been an approach, as clearly he is the outstanding candidate for the job.
However, at the same time, he is in the middle of doing a massive long-term job at Newcastle United, one that I am sure for a number of years will postpone any longer-term interest Eddie Howe may have in managing the national side.
I would be amazed if today we hear anything other than an unequivocal reply from Eddie Howe, saying in no uncertain terms that he is fully committed to Newcastle United and will be continuing this 2024/25 season and hopefully many more after that.
You can never say never in football, when Lee Clark joined Sunderland that confirmed to me you can never take anything for granted.
So if the minute possibility happens and today, Eddie Howe doesn’t give a straight answer on whether or not he will be still managing Newcastle United when the new season kicks off, that is when I will massively start to worry.
However, I have total confidence (apart from that one in a thousand/million Lee Clark type surprise) that on Saturday 17 August, Eddie Howe will be on the touchline at St Jmaes’ Park when Newcastle kick off against Southampton.
Total confidence that today Eddie Howe will talk passionately about the season ahead and leave us all looking forward even more to that new season kicking off in four weeks time.
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