‘I’ve not been impressed’ – Keith Wyness swipes at Newcastle summer arrival at heart of club ‘unrest’
Newcastle United had a busy summer on and off the pitch with a number of new arrivals at St James’ Park.
Alexander Isak joined Liverpool for a British transfer record fee of £125million, ending months of controversy around his future in the north east.
Last weekend, Newcastle lost 3-1 to Brentford, in what was their third defeat in four Premier League games.
Eddie Howe’s men now sit 14th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone.
Newcastle CEO has a ‘very high bar’ to reach
Over the summer, Newcastle appointed David Hopkinson as their new CEO, replacing the outgoing Darren Eales.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that the jury is still out on Hopkinson.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness revealed that he has not been impressed by the 54-year-old so far, after there was a delay to the stadium development announcement.
Wyness added that there is a bit of unrest at Newcastle currently.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I’ve not been impressed, to be honest, the way he has started. The jury’s very much out for him. And I think there’s a bit of unrest at Newcastle at the moment.
“It’s not really Eddie Howe who is going to get the bullet at the moment or anything like that. But there is a bit of disquiet around PIF.
“I think it’s the ownership and the leadership. It’s not been quite as clear and decisive as perhaps the fans would have wanted. There’s been a delay on any stadium announcement, and I just sense that Hopkinson coming in as the new Chief Executive didn’t sort of fit what was needed there.
“So I’m just seeing some issues emerging at Newcastle, not Eddie Howe and the football side, but more on the executive team and the ownership.
“I think that this new CEO has now set himself up to jump over a very high bar because Newcastle were doing okay for the first three years, and now things are starting to drop off for the first time. So they’ve got a challenge, and he’s got to step up to the plate. So I am watching this one very closely.”
Newcastle eye Everton midfielder
Meanwhile, Newcastle are keeping tabs on Everton midfielder James Garner ahead of the January transfer window, sources have told Football Insider.
The 24-year-old’s outstanding performances this season have seen David Moyes back him for a call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.
Newcastle scouts have been making regular checks on Garner, whose contract at the Hill Dickinson Stadium expires next summer.
Everton are keen to keep hold of the former Manchester United youngster though and are expected to offer him a new deal.
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