Newcastle have lost 'the glue that kept the club together' as the real story emerges

Eddie Howe's decision to leave Newcastle United comes two years after the exits of co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi.

The 48-year-old has stepped down after almost five years in charge of the Magpies, and will now take a break from management.

The news comes as an incredibly turbulent period for the club, which has seen numerous key players leave over the last year.

Alexander Isak's departure last summer was followed by an abysmal season, with Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon having followed him out the exit door in recent weeks.

Club captain and St James' Park hero Bruno Guimaraes is now also set to leave, with an agreement close over an £80million move to Arsenal.

The issues reportedly stem from two years ago, however, with the ramifications still being felt at St James' Park.

Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi exits detrimental for Newcastle

Stavely and Ghodoussi were heavily involved in the Saudi Public Investment Fund's takeover of Newcastle in 2021, and took a 10 per cent stake.

As directors, the pair hired Howe and were in charge as the likes of Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Isak, and Gordon were bought.

Under their watch, the club went from fighting relegation to qualifying for the Champions League, and looked to be set for further progression.

However, financial and personal constraints ultimately saw Staveley and Ghodoussi sell their remaining shares in 2024.

According to the Daily Mail, that moment has caused massive damage at Newcastle. Craig Hope reported "they were the glue that kept the club together.

The pair recognised the value of Howe better than anyone else, and the arrival of Paul Mitchell as sporting director following their departures caused huge turmoil.

"It left them feeling abandoned by the club at the parachuting in of this abrasive outsider. It then caused mayhem when he told some players they weren’t wanted and they believed that instruction had come from Howe, which they later discovered it had not," Hope wrote.

West Ham set to benefit

According to various sources, a consortium led by Staveley and Ghodoussi are in talks to purchase a 25 per cent stake in West Ham.

The Hammers were relegated in May and have been in uncertainty at the top since long-time chairman David Sullivan stepped down in June.

The former Newcastle co-owners have reportedly shown interest in purchasing Vanessa Gold's stake, and discussions are said to be advancing.

Should the deal go through, West Ham may well fall into the hands that Newcastle should still belong to.