Eddie Howe could quit Newcastle after bust-up – Top source
Eddie Howe could quit his position at Newcastle United as a result of his frosty relationship with sporting director Paul Mitchell.
This is according to former Man United chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the lack of cooperation between the club’s decision-makers has led to a feeling of instability.
Tensions between Howe and Mitchell have been well documented since the summer after the sporting director criticised the previous recruitment policy.
While those tensions are now said to have cooled, Brown has insisted that the boss will not be happy to see a reduced role in the club’s decision-making, given he will be made to deal with the results should things go wrong.
The boss has been linked with the vacant England manager’s position, currently occupied by interim boss Lee Carsley following Gareth Southgate’s departure.
Meanwhile, Football Insider revealed on 24 September that Man United chiefs are weighing up a move for Howe should they part ways with Erik ten Hag.
As a result, he is thought not to have any shortage of potential offers on the table should he leave St James’ Park in the near future amid growing uncertainty.
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Newcastle endured a frustrating summer transfer window which saw the first-team squad fail to improve on key positions, and a repeat in January could push the agitation to breaking point.
Brown, who has also worked closely with managers at West Ham, Aston Villa and Tottenham among other top clubs, explained that Howe is likely to be frustrated if his powers are stripped.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he walked away,” the hugely experienced operator told Football Insider.
“It wouldn’t surprise me because he’ll get to a stage where he thinks, ‘I’m the manager, I’m responsible for everything, I’ve got to pick up the bill for everything, but I’m not the one making the decisions’.
“He won’t be having that.
“So, it’s a classic case of a lack of cooperation between the sporting director and the manager.
“I’ve seen it happen many times, and I’ve seen very few examples where it works out well.
“I’m hearing the situation there now is bringing a state of instability into the club. That can’t be good.
“You get to a stage where the director of football is trying to bring in players that the manager doesn’t want, so where do you go from there?
“Some of the statements that have come out from the director of football criticising the manager’s decisions are absolutely abysmal.
“Everybody you talk to who’s had anything to do with him says Eddie Howe is very good at his job.“
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