Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has insisted he will treat anybody leaving St James’ Park this summer with “respect” ahead of some potential emotional farewells.
Howe knows he has some decisions to make with contract expiries due, new signings coming in and calls on new deals to be made by sporting director Paul Mitchell. The Magpies, who want to improve their squad for a possible title tilt next season, can’t retain everybody with long serving players like Matt Targett, Sean Longstaff, Callum Wilson and a clutch of younger players approaching a possible crossroads in their careers.
In his time in charge to date, Howe has done something almost unheard of for a Newcastle boss with bust-ups and disputes with players kept to a minimum compared to the soap opera that unfolded prior to his appointment. Only the demotion and subsequent release of Ryan Fraser last summer caused any real ripples in the water.
Are dramatic exits and public verbal volleys from departing players a thing of the past? Or is everybody leaving with a smile on their face these days?
Howe told Chronicle Live: “I don’t know if everybody leaves with a smile on their face, but in this game, there will always be moments of disappointment or different emotions that players will feel. We totally understand that.
“You can never have a perfect world but I would love to think that players feel treated with respect, in every moment. Whether it is good or bad.
“As long as they have given us that respect during their time here. We will always try to give that back to the players.”
That was certainly the case when Elliot Anderson left against his will last summer to join Nottingham Forest. The Geordie attacking midfielder has not only maintained healthy contact but was even in the stands when Newcastle won the Carabao Cup at Wembley against Liverpool.
Long-serving midfielder Isaac Hayden has worked with the reserves and been loaned out to multiple locations after being told he wasn’t part of the plans on Tyneside, but still has good words to say about Howe. And when Paul Dummett was released on a free transfer last summer he was allowed to work with the Academy to keep up his fitness levels.
