- PIF to meet Eddie Howe at Newcastle United
- Magpies manager under pressure after recent results
- End-of-season review to take place
Newcastle United chiefs will fly to Tyneside next week to hold talks with Eddie Howe as pressure mounts on the Magpies manager.
The 2-1 defeat to AFC Bournemouth on Saturday was the latest blow and the fourth defeat in a row for Newcastle. Howe had seen his side thrashed 7-2 by Barcelona in the Champions League before a painful home derby defeat to Sunderland last month.
It had been hoped that the international break would provide respite and a chance to get their ducks in order, but the Magpies have been beaten by Crystal Palace and the Cherries on their return. Newcastle now sit 14th in the Premier League, a long way adrift from the European qualification hopes set at the start of the campaign.
PIF to meet with Eddie Howe next week
It had been reported in some quarters that the manager had been kept behind for ‘crisis talks’ with CEO David Hopkinson, sporting director Ross Wilson and performance director James Bunce on Saturday evening.
However, The Chronicle claimed to have spoken to insiders at the club, and believed that those conversations took place in the dressing room and not the boardroom. It’s being described as a ‘routine debrief’ between Howe and Wilson.
It’s added that Newcastle ‘will not hit the panic button’ on a decision over Howe’s future. The Magpies manager and his coaching staff will still be in charge for the trip to Arsenal on Saturday night.
However, there are still questions to be asked and the outlet’s reporter Lee Ryder shared an update on Tuesday. Taking to social media platform X, he wrote: “PIF chiefs to meet Eddie Howe next week at as Newcastle United summit meeting confirmed.”
Eddie Howe retains Newcastle United backing, for now
It has been added that Howe retains the backing of the board with those meetings not set to be the opportunity to fire the manager. Sky Sports reported today that the club will not reach a final decision on the manager’s future until the end of the season.
That end of season review is believed to be a regular process and not something out of the ordinary given recent struggles.
Speaking after the defeat to Sunderland, CEO David Hopkinson said: “I don’t have a stance on his future.
“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.”
In other news, Newcastle United ‘in talks’ with UEFA as summer transfer blow looms.
