Eddie Howe’s future at Newcastle United will not be decided until the end of the season.
Despite Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth, it is Sky Sports News‘ understanding that Howe’s future remains something that will be discussed at the end of the campaign and that no immediate action will be taken.
Newcastle currently have no plans to change head coach, although an end-of-season review will be conducted as normal.
CEO David Hopkinson said after the Sunderland game that it was not time to discuss Howe’s future yet – and it is understood that remains the case.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Newcastle’s match against Bournemouth in the Premier League.
“I don’t have a stance on his future,” Hopkinson said after the Tyne-Wear derby defeat.
“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.
“Right now, we’re focused on this season’s competition.”
Newcastle have lost twice more since the Sunderland game, against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, heaping pressure on Howe with sections of the support unhappy. The Magpies sit 14th in the Premier League table, which would be their lowest finish since they were relegated at the end of the 2015/16 season.
They are 13 points behind the Champions League places, and six off the other European spots.
Shearer: Players have chucked Howe under bus – he’ll leave
Newcastle’s record goalscorer Alan Shearer spoke out in defence of Howe following the defeat to Bournemouth, claiming that the players have thrown their boss under the bus in recent weeks.
He also predicted that the slide will ultimately result in Howe leaving St James’ Park.
“Did you watch it?” said Shearer about the Bournemouth game on the Rest is Football podcast. “I was going to say I was lucky enough, but I sat and watched it and the players were terrible.
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Sandro Tonali has been one of several key players who has been linked with a move away from Newcastle.
“As tough as it is for Eddie, I don’t know what is going to happen with him. I listened to his interview afterwards and I watched him on the touchline and I just think is he going to want to go again? Is he going to get the chance to go again?
“There are so many moving parts with it for him. If all things are equal then, yes, I would like him to [stay]. But does he feel as if he is going to have the chance? Does he want to do it again? Are Newcastle going to have to sell?
“If he has money to spend and he doesn’t have to sell then, yeah. But I looked at the players yesterday and if that was what they call fighting for their manager, because he is under huge pressure whether you like it or not, they were terrible. They chucked him under the bus, the players. The performance was c**p from every single one of them.
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Eddie Howe admitted after the defeat to Crystal Palace that his team were letting the fans down with their current form.
“It is a tough situation, a tough summer for Newcastle coming up. They have got some big decisions to make. As I am sat here, I don’t see Eddie in charge of Newcastle next season, unfortunately.
“I look at his interview after the game and I am not sure the fight is there. It is a very different club now to the one that he would want to go forward. He doesn’t look in a good position.”
