Newcastle United stance on Eddie Howe as head coach fails key target ahead of crunch PIF summit
Eddie Howe will meet with Newcastle United’s hierarchy this week, including chief executive officer David Hopkinson and chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
Newcastle United chairman and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan is set to be on Tyneside this week for a key summit with Eddie Howe and the club’s hierarchy.
The annual meeting comes on the back of Newcastle’s worst run of form since the Saudi-led takeover in 2021, with the side losing each of their last five matches in all competitions.
The Magpies have also lost nine of their last 12 games and sit 14th in the Premier League table with four games left to play.
After winning the Carabao Cup and qualifying for the Champions League last season, Newcastle have suffered a significant drop off this campaign.
Following the Carabao Cup win, Al-Rumayyan was filmed on the pitch saying: “That’s the first and it’s not going to be the last!”
The Newcastle chairman has also previously gone on the record outlying his ambitions to make the club ‘number one’ in the world. This ambition has been echoed by new chief executive David Hopkinson this season.
“By 2030, I see this club being in the debate about being the top club in the world,” Hopkinson said. “That’s where I see us by 2030 – and that kind of progress doesn’t take as long as you might think.
“What it takes is clarity of conviction. First off, we need to be totally aligned about the fact that that’s what we want to do.”
But that ambition hasn’t been matched by what has materialised on the pitch this season. The club are eight points off the potential European places and just eight points above the relegation zone with four games left to play.
While Howe has been dismissive of any relegation talk, he admitted the club has ‘a lot to do’ over the summer in order to avoid being dragged into such a battle next season.
Newcastle’s end-of-season form and the manager’s comments about a difficult summer and potential 2026/27 season ahead have sparked concerns among supporters. And it doesn’t quite match what club chiefs are saying publicly.
Hopkinson was recently asked for a stance on Howe’s future as Newcastle head coach, to which he replied: “I don’t have a stance on his future.”
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Newcastle United not meeting expectations this season
Hopkinson then added that he expects Newcastle to have a great run to the end of the season, only for the side to lose every game since.
“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,” the Newcastle CEO added. “Right now, we're focused on this season's competition."
That failure to meet expectations could lead to some difficult conversations at this week’s meeting, as club chiefs assess the season and plan for the future.
And Howe is expecting this to be the hardest meeting of his spell as Newcastle head coach.
On the upcoming meeting, Howe said: “It's something that happens regularly so it’s nothing out of the norm for us. Always like the chance to talk directly to the owners and to express things from my perspective.
“It’s something we have always done and I look forward to that.”
He then added after Newcastle’s fifth straight defeat: “This one will be slightly harder for me, I'm sure, but it'll be good to meet with the owners and discuss the future."
NUFC’s stance on Eddie Howe’s future
While Hopkinson has publicly stated that he doesn’t have a stance on the Newcastle head coach’s future, The Gazette understands that Howe is part of the club’s plans moving forward.
Barring an absolute disaster in the final four games, Howe is set to play a key part in Newcastle’s summer plans, with this week’s meeting used to get everyone aligned and moving in the same direction ahead of a crucial summer for the club.
Your next Newcastle United read: Exclusive: Newcastle United make Eddie Howe future plans clear - but key departures expected this summer