🇨🇭 Fabian Schar has issued a hands-off warning to England bosses over Eddie Howe – amid claims the Magpies boss is their preferred option to succeed Captain Cautious:
“I actually hope he will stay at Newcastle because if you see the work he has done at Newcastle over the last few years, he has a lot of quality and knows how to handle a big club and a big team.”
Newcastle United could be forced to say goodbye to Eddie Howe much sooner than they wanted, possibly even before the start of next season.
According to Chris Waugh of The Athletic, Howe’s reported “long-term contract” was signed in 2022 and remains in place but he will “inevitably feature” in the shortlist of candidates to replace Gareth Southgate starting next August.
“(Howe) signed what was described by the club as a ‘long-term contract’ back in 2022,” Waugh reported. “But, while he and his family are settled in the north east, Howe will inevitably feature prominently on the FA’s wish list should Gareth Southgate’s tenure as England manager end after Euro 2024.“
Although no reports are pointing toward a realistic and serious interest from the FA in appointing Howe as the head coach of the Three Lions after the ongoing European championship, it’s widely known that Southgate will leave the nation’s bench after the competition is over.
Waugh notes the struggles of Newcastle to abide by the PSR at the end of June as a possible reason for Howe to decide to leave the organization and instead transition to coaching the national side to get rid of the stress that accompanies managing a club.
“Given how stressful the final fortnight of June was for the head coach, as multiple members of his squad were linked with exits, and considering he was not involved in or even consulted about the sporting director process, [new sporting director Paul] Mitchell must quickly assuage any lingering concerns Howe may have,” Waugh wrote.
If Mitchell, who Newcastle announced as their new sporting director on July 4, cannot convince Howe to stay put, then there is a real chance he will leave Tyneside as soon as this or next month.
Waugh, however, reported a potential contract extension with saucier terms might be in the works to convince Howe to delay his jump to national management and instead remain with Newcastle as the Magpies keep looking for the first title in decades.
“That may involve fresh terms being proposed to stave off any FA interest,“ Waugh wrote.
England will play Switzerland in the quarterfinals of Euro 2024 on Saturday, July 6, in what could be Southgate’s final match on the Three Lions bench.
