Eddie Howe is excepted to become the new Newcastle United manager today and will be at the club’s Premier League game with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Talks between representatives of Howe and the club went well on Friday and Howe has agreed in principle to a two-and-a-half year contract to succeed Steve Bruce that is expected to be formally announced before the game at The Amex Stadium.
Newcastle have been without a permanent manager since sacking Bruce on October 20. They are currently second bottom of the Premier League, six points from safety. Howe has been out of work since leaving Bournemouth by mutual consent at the start of August 2020.
Newcastle, who became 80 per cent owned by Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund (PIF) on October 7, have also interviewed Roberto Martinez and Paulo Fonseca and were rejected by Unai Emery on Wednesday, after terms were agreed, in their search for a successor to Bruce.
Howe, as revealed by The Times on October 20, was spoken to by a Newcastle delegation earlier in a managerial process that has been led by the director Amanda Staveley, and he was interviewed again last weekend. He saw no problem in Emery, the current Villarreal and former Arsenal manager, being offered the job first.
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He will attend The Amex on Saturday tea-time but Graeme Jones, the Newcastle interim manager, has said he will be in charge for the game, with the club still winless this season.
“Yeah, I’m taking it,” said Jones, who will join Howe’s backroom staff. “I’ve prepared the team all week. I have never lost focus. If you get involved with speculation you will [lose focus]. We know we have a big game. I feel like the team are well prepared and we are looking forward to the game.”
On Howe, he added: “Eddie has managed 550 games, 200 in the Premier League, he is 43 years old and has a wealth of experience.
“If it is Eddie, I know he lives for the game and it’s his whole life. If you think you can come to Newcastle and do it part-time, you’re mistaken. It requires every ounce you’ve got. He’s intense and has exceptional Premier League experience.
“If that is the route (the owners take) I’m sure he’s more than capable. He lives for the game. It is his whole life.”
