Eddie Howe believes Newcastle’s Saudi supporters remain firmly behind the club’s efforts to establish itself as one of the best clubs in the world, after having “difficult conversations” with owners this week.
The 48-year-old head coach reflected on a disappointing season at Matfen Hall on Thursday and revealed he believes Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which holds 85% of the club’s shares, remains committed to the ambitious vision he set out when he took power in October 2021.
The “constructive” talks with Newcastle and PIF chairman Yassir Al Rumayyan came as Saudi Arabia announced its decision to end funding for LIV Golf, which has spent more than $5bn (£3.7bn), after the end of the 2026 season.
Asked if he had been given any guarantees about PIF’s future financial support, Mr Howe said: “No, I haven’t asked for anything either.
“But I would say that what came through was a determination to succeed on all fronts and continue to grow the club.
“The desire to be at the top of the Premier League and win as many trophies as possible consistently remains the same. I don’t think that will change while PIF is our owner, part owner or majority owner. They are very ambitious for the football club.”
“A lot of the things they have to do to improve the club will take some time. We’ll get back to the stadium and the training ground, but these things don’t just click, because of course everything is tied to income.
“Everyone wants to fast forward, but sometimes it takes a little while to get these things right.”
‘Newcastle has a long-term vision’
Gary Neville backed Howe to turn things around at Newcastle
Regarding the meeting with club owners, he added: “There were some difficult conversations and difficult questions, but that’s all part of it.”
“We’ve had meetings like this every year, regardless of where we are in the league, where certain decisions you’ve made or how certain scenarios ended up being challenged and investigated and then you explain the process behind it.
“Obviously this year there are slightly more difficult questions because of the league position, but we can’t escape from that, but the process behind it was exactly the same as in previous years.
“They obviously care very much about the football club and obviously the long-term plans that are going on on many levels, so that’s always constructive.
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Sky Sports’ chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekor explains how changes in Saudi Arabia’s investment in sport could impact the future of Newcastle, Mohamed Salah and LIV Golf.
“Regardless of what happens in the short term, it’s a very exciting time for the club. The long-term vision is clearly there.”
Howe, who led the club to the Champions League twice during his four-and-a-half years on Tyneside and ended Newcastle’s 70-year wait for a major domestic title, admitted he had not been good enough in the league this season, and that was reflected in Thursday’s meeting.
“I’m confident that I’ll be here next season.”
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Howe’s own departure has been the subject of intense debate in recent weeks, after nine defeats in 12 Premier League games left Newcastle in 14th place, eight points out of the European qualification spot, and the same margin off the relegation zone.
He faces Brighton at St James’ Park on Saturday and insists he remains fully focused on taking the club forward, although he knows his continuity could be an issue for him.
“I’ve never needed clarity in my head (about the future), in the sense that I’m here, working and being committed. A football club has to do what a football club has to do,” he said.
“The football club needs to make sure that we are going in the right direction, that there is positivity and that we are fighting on all fronts. We can talk as much as we want, but the proof is in the performance of the team. I have no illusions that we need to be positive.”
“I don’t need to cheer up. I’m fine. My motivation level is really high.”
“I think we’re learning a lot from this moment we’re in. I’m learning a lot right now. Difficult runs force you to really reevaluate everything and improve. Sometimes the most disappointing moments are the ones where you can grow the most.”
“We have to remain confident[that we will be here next season]. Not having a long-term vision does no good for anyone, but we need to win games.
“I feel there is unity within the football club, but from my point of view I have no illusions. To maintain that feeling and trust, we have to deliver results. That is the responsibility that comes with the job.”
Midfielder Joelinton is available after serving a two-match suspension, while Anthony Gordon could return from a hip flexor injury.
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Paul Merson has warned Newcastle against sacking Eddie Howe despite his recent poor performance.
Neville supports Howe
Last weekend, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville backed Howe at Newcastle despite the Magpies falling from European football to the bottom half of the Premier League after a recent poor run of results.
“It’s been a really disappointing season,” he said on the Gary Neville Podcast.
“The end-of-season transfer business in the summer was a big problem for them. They ended up signing (Nick) Woltemade and (Ioan) Wissa, but that hasn’t paid off yet.
“I think total trust and confidence in Eddie Howe is the way to go.
“They’ve got a really good manager. At some clubs it’s easy to say, ‘We’ve got five or six year contracts, so let’s change the manager and keep the players,’ but at Newcastle it’s quite the opposite.”
Gary Neville backed Howe to turn things around at Newcastle
“They’re going to think, ‘If we lose him (Howe), we’ve lost 8.5 out of 10 managers. We’ve lost a really solid performer, a reliable, consistent, great attitude manager.’
“Hopefully they will talk to coach Eddie Howe and look at (the squad) and say, ‘These are the players I want, he’s a shift for me, these are the players I’m signing for next season, I want to get four or five of these guys and I want to get the job done quickly while everyone is thinking about the World Cup.’
“They are a really good team, I like watching them and they will need to properly support the manager, support him and support him.
“If I were Newcastle I would do it because I think they have the best players and they will give us another shot at the Champions League next season.”
Howe knows support won’t last forever
Sky Sports News reporter Keith Downey:
“Eddie Howe was fresh from yesterday’s executive meeting at Northumberland’s prestigious Matfen Hall in a press conference.
“The information I received overnight was that the majority owner, PIF, supports Newcastle’s plight and understands why this season has been largely disappointing.
“And nothing Howe said today contradicted that. He described the club’s unity and underlined PIF’s ambition to rise to the top. But Newcastle, who sit 14th in the Premier League table, look a long way from those heights.”
“He did say he was asked ‘challenging questions,’ and there were more difficult questions (than usual) because of his position in the league.” But he also felt there was support and understanding for his mitigation measures.
“Howe has said again that there is no need to be clear about his future and there is no need to reinvigorate him. Nevertheless, he is still not convinced that he will be here next season and that outcome will depend on what happens between now and the summer.”
“We have four games left. We’ve lost five on the bounce, but we’re not under illusions. We need to win games,” he reiterated over and over again. Things can change quickly in football and Newcastle need to start winning right away.
“For now he may have the support of the PIF, but he knows that won’t last forever if Newcastle keep losing football matches.”
