Eddie Howe cagey over Newcastle future and admits ‘it’s difficult to give any reassurance on anything in football’ – as speculation mounts following a frustrating transfer window

Eddie Howe admits he cannot give supporters assurances over his Newcastle future – but says his only focus is on staying at the club for a ‘long time’.

While the England job is open and with the head coach having conceded his frustration at a summer window in which key positions such as centre-back and right-wing were not strengthened, there remains some uncertainty over Howe’s future.

Asked if he could would consider walking away – like Kevin Keegan had done amid transfer angst in 2009 – Howe said: ‘This isn’t a loaded answer, but it’s difficult to give any reassurance on anything in football. 

‘But I absolutely love being Newcastle manager and I’m very proud to do it. 

‘No part of me is thinking anything other than trying to beat Tottenham and looking, hopefully, to a long reign here.’

While the England job is open here remains some uncertainty over Howe’s future (pictured: interim England boss Lee Carsley)

Profit and Sustainability Rules have limited what Newcastle can do in the transfer market, and Howe added: ‘A lot has changed in terms of PSR (since the Saudi-led takeover in 2021). 

‘The biggest change, the inability to spend, and our need to comply with rules to prevent a points deduction.

‘Of course that impacts the ability to progress the club as quickly as maybe they wanted to. 

‘I don’t think the dream dies, necessarily, it takes a lot longer. We have got to build our revenue streams, that is the biggest thing. 

‘Bring more money into the football club, however we do that, sponsorship, loads of things.

‘That is the big thing we need to focus on in the next 10 years, whether I am lucky enough to see any of that, who knows. 

‘So the dream is not over, it is just going to take a lot, lot longer.’

Meanwhile, Howe admits he would have been powerless to prevent a star name leaving the club at the end of June as Newcastle battled to avoid breaching PSR rules.

Asked if he could would consider walking away – like Kevin Keegan had done in 2009 – Howe said: ‘This isn’t a loaded answer but it’s difficult to give any reassurance on anything in football’

He added: ‘Selling players was a necessity, and it was very difficult to do’ (pictured: Elliot Anderson who moved to Nottingham Forest)

‘I can’t act like that (say no to a player leaving),’ he said. ‘It’s not about my want. Especially in June, it was about what the club needs. 

‘We could have been sat here with a huge points deduction and everyone would say, “Why didn’t they sell players?”. 

‘You have to choose which way you want to go with it, and we couldn’t go down that route (points deduction). Selling players was a necessity, and it was very difficult to do.’