Eddie Howe lost his one 'big ally' at Newcastle before he quit
Eddie Howe lost his biggest supporter at Newcastle United when Amanda Staveley left the club in 2024.
That is the opinion of former Tottenham, Everton and Aston Villa scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The 48-year-old left the Magpies last week after almost five years in charge, with Matthias Jaissle set to take over.
Howe's statement confirmed that he was keen to take a break from management, but it has been reported that the situation at Newcastle had become highly frustrating.
Several key players have left the club in recent months, with club captain Bruno Guimaraes set to join them in the coming days.
Talks over a move to Arsenal have been ongoing for several weeks, with the Brazil international having made it clear that he wishes to depart this summer.
Eddie Howe did 'the honourable thing' by stepping down
Howe has led the Newcastle rebuild following the Saudi Arabian takeover in 2021, and was expected to remain in charge.
The Magpies finished 12th in the Premier League last season and went backwards, prompting calls for a change by many fans.
Decision-makers at St James' Park did not waver in their backing of the Englishman, but it appears that it is other decisions that have ultimately led to his departure.
The sales of Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and potentially Guimaraes have decimated Howe's squad, but the most damaging departure may well have been Staveley.
"She was responsible for bringing in Eddie Howe and as soon as she lost the position there and sold out, or was moved out, Eddie Howe has obviously lost his one big ally in the football club," King told Football Insider.
"And now they've decided, after a pretty mediocre season, that we're going to sell our best player [Guimaraes].
"Again, these deals are done when the manager and the player, or players, are not in the football club. They're having a break, a holiday. Or for Guimaraes, they're playing in the World Cup.
"I think Eddie Howe has done a good job there. But, let's say, I don't think Eddie's the guy to stand up to the kind of people who own that football club, and fair play to him.
"Things have obviously not been right for him now for the last five or six months. And now they sell the best player, I would imagine, against his opinion anyway. And what's left? This season will be problems if he stays, as far as I can see.
"So he's done the honourable thing and quit. Whether it's a sensible thing, I don't know. But he's stood on his principles."
Why Amanda Staveley left Newcastle
Staveley and her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi played a key role in pushing through the 2021 takeover of Newcastle.
They were minority shareholders but took the reins and made the decision to appoint Howe, among several others.
"It was exhausting, but you put everything into it because that was what it needed and it was what the Newcastle fans deserved," Staveley said in 2025 when asked about her exit.
"I feel bad because Lexi [Alexander], my wonderful son, suffered for three years because he didn't get the attention he should have had, although he now loves Newcastle as much as we do.
"As we grew, we brought in an executive team and Darren Eales [the CEO], but we were very much at the coalface because Newcastle was still under-resourced. As the club continues to expand it needs a management team which can be left to do their jobs.
"I've read on social media that there has been some kind of fall-out, but that's rubbish. I love my colleagues. It just became unfair for us to constantly be there."