Eddie Howe issues update on his Newcastle United future after 'challenging' PIF meeting
Eddie Howe issues update on his Newcastle United future after meeting with the club’s owners.
Eddie Howe is confident he’ll still be Newcastle United head coach next season after meeting with the club’s ownership.
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Jamie Reuben, Yasir Al-Rumayyan and a delegation from the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia arrived on Tyneside on Thursday for their annual board meeting at Matfen Hall.
As part of the agenda, Howe presented to the hierarchy and admitted he faced “challenging questions” with the Magpies in the midst of a dismal run of form - losing five on the bounce and nine of their last 12 Premier League games to leave them 14th in the table.
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Howe still feels supported by those above but is "under no illusions" of the need to turnaround results. Four games of the season remain, starting with Brighton & Hove Albion at home on Saturday.
Eddie Howe confident he’ll still be NUFC head coach next season
“I have to retain that confidence," Howe said when asked directly if he is confident he’ll still be at St James’ Park next season. I don't think that serves anybody not to have that long-term vision.
“So it's interesting how you do the job because you do the job day-to-day and you're looking very much day-to-day, how can we today, how can we prepare as well as we can for Brighton with one eye on obviously next week and then one eye on in the summer and one eye on next season.
“That's always how I've managed. You're looking after the long-term interests while taking care of the very short-term aims that you need and that will never change. And again, regardless of results, I think you have to have that for the benefit of the football club.
“You've always got to think of the football club first. Now, I will say we need to win games.”
Howe added: “I feel there's unity within the football club but of course, as I say, in my position, I'm under no illusions. I have to get results to keep that feeling and that strength and that trust.
“I mean, that would be regardless of whatever moment we're in. I'm well aware that that is a responsibility that comes with the job.”
Eddie Howe on ‘challenging’ meeting with NUFC owners
Then asked if he sought clarity over his future, Howe replied: “I've never needed clarity on my head in the sense that I'm here and I'm working and I'm committed and that won't change.
“Obviously, the football club has to do what a football club has to do and the football club has to see that we're going in the right direction and there's a positive feeling and the team's fighting on all fronts to try and get results.
“I felt at Arsenal there was a real positive upturn in performance. We need to see that continue tomorrow. We know the importance of the game.
“But I always find with these things, you can talk as much as you want. The proof is always in how the team performs. So I'm under no illusions that that needs to be positive.”