Newcastle United

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Take a step back and, whether we like it or not, we can all see what is happening with all the ins and outs at Newcastle. Whatever statements come out of the club, it is clear the landscape has changed.

It is a changing football club - in terms of its owners' aims and ambitions and their transfer strategy, which all seem massively different to the way they were even three years ago.

Back then, the sky seemed to be the limit, and the talk was about competing with the very best.

Now, the approach seems to be to sell their best players and replace them with younger, hungry and up-and-coming prospects. If it was that easy to do it successfully and still compete at the top of the table, then everyone would do it - but it isn't.

The club's spending always had to comply with the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules but it still felt like the plan was to battle it out for silverware every season.

Go back to the summer of 2023, when Newcastle had just finished fourth and added Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento to a squad already containing Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes.

It felt like they were ready to challenge for everything, and capable of beating everyone. Eddie Howe had made them a horrible team to play against, in the nicest possible way.

Three years on, much of that team has gone and now the manager has too, but it is the whole model which feels the most different.

The goalposts have moved massively from where the club said they wanted to get to, compared to where they are now.

When we won the Carabao Cup, I was hoping it was just the start of something very special, but it seems a lot has changed since then.

Read more from Shearer's column reflecting on Howe's departure

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

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Al-Ahli boss Matthias Jaissle is the surprise favourite to succeed Eddie Howe - who is expected to leave his role with immediate effect - as Newcastle head coach - and he would arrive with a strong recent record of success.

Former Red Bull Salzburg boss Jaissle took his first coaching steps as assistant manager of Danish club Brondby between 2017 and 2019. He then took over Salzburg's under-18 academy team before becoming a head coach for the first time at Liefering in Austria's second tier.

He guided them to a second-placed finish, the club's joint-best position, and that achievement helped him become Salzburg manager in 2021, replacing Jesse Marsch, who would later manage Leeds United in the Premier League and then Canada at the 2026 World Cup.

In two seasons with Salzburg, Jaissle won the Austrian Bundesliga twice and also the Austrian Cup.

Jaissle joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli in 2023 and led them to consecutive Asian Champions League titles in 2025 and 2026. Such success would have been noted by Newcastle's Saudi ownership in the event of Howe leaving St James' Park.

Magpies supporters could be encouraged by Jaissle's methods - his teams play high-pressing, attacking football. He demands they show intensity and force turnovers as high up the pitch as possible.

What do you think about Jaissle's expected arrival? Do you think he is the right man for the job, or should Newcastle appoint someone else?

Get in touch with your views here

Two Austrian Bundesliga titles, an Austrian Cup, two AFC Champions League titles and a Saudi Super Cup - Matthias Jaissle - the man expected to replace Eddie Howe at Newcastle - knows how to win.

Since joining Al-Ahli in 2023, the 38-year-old has cemented the Saudi side into a top-table team.

Saudi football expert Mohamed Qutob told BBC Radio Newcastle: "He did benefit from the fact that his club, from all the clubs run by the PIF, didn't have this massive figure [in the team], like Neymar, Benzema or Cristiano Ronaldo.

"He earned his popularity. Let's not forget the four clubs taken over by PIF three years ago. He is the only one who survived the three seasons."

Zlatko Junuzovic, who was managed by the young German boss for a brief spell at RB Salzburg, said Jaissle's philosophy is built around a high attacking line.

"The philosophy is to play against the ball by pressing, a high-line to attack the defenders and, in the best case, you win the ball in their half, and you can go directly to the goal," he explained.

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German football journalist Constantin Eckner says he rates Matthias Jaissle, who is expected to replace Eddie Howe at Newcastle, "very highly".

Jaissle joined Al-Ahli in 2023 and led the Saudi club to back-to-back AFC Champions League titles in 2024-25 and 2025-26.

"He might be the right man for the job," said Eckner on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "There are a couple of uncertainties regarding Newcastle's transfers this summer, so we don't know how the team will look when the Premier League starts or once deadline day has passed.

"But I rate Matthias Jaissle very highly. His football is still very intensity-based, but he shows a lot of flexibility.

"Jaissle, like Fabian Hurzeler at Brighton, is a young coach who is very good at coaching intensity to all kind of players.

"One big advantage I have been told about him is that he communicates very efficiently and precisely. He doesn't ramble - it's clear-cut and his English has improved massively.

"We have to see how he deals with the pressure, but he is smart and able to put things into perspective by himself."

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Former Newcastle midfielder Dan Gosling has said "discontent" had been building at the club since the start of last season.

Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle, Gosling said: "Newcastle end up getting second or third-place targets - again. It seems to be happening again and again. It is a difficult place to be as manager.

"After what he [Eddie Howe] had done to bring two Champions League qualifications and to win a trophy, I think he deserved everything from them."

Gosling said the Magpies' 2025 summer buys were the main reason for Newcastle's poor 2025-26 campaign.

"The players that have come in to replace the guys that have left the building didn't really hit the heights of those players, and they just never seemed to gel last season at all."

Gosling added that everything had "gone south slowly" when Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi sold their 6% stake in the club in July 2024.

"Maybe he has not felt the love since Amanda left. I felt they had a really strong relationship and, ever since she left, it has kind of gone south slowly."

Hit play above to hear more from Gosling or listen on BBC Sounds here

Watch below as ex-Magpies defender John Anderson gives his reaction, saying Howe looked a "tired man" after pre-season games...

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Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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So what are the rules that Newcastle have, at times, come close to breaking? From the beginning of the PIF takeover, Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) have put the brakes on Newcastle's ambitions to spend.

Just because a club has wealthy owners does not mean they can spend big in the transfer windows.

After buying the club in 2021, PIF spent £404.7m in the first three years. But by bringing in only £50.4m from sales, Newcastle saw the stark reality of PSR hit home in 2024.

That led to them having to sell homegrown talent Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest and has snowballed since, with important players being offloaded every season.

The Magpies welcomed the new Financial Fair Play rules - the Squad Cost Ratio (SCR), which are now in effect - and, in short, mean the more you generate, the more you can spend.

But, when analysing their spending power against that of other Premier League clubs, Swiss Ramble, external found that the Magpies' SCR budget ranked ninth (£243m) in the Premier League.

On top of that, in April, the PIF withdrew its multibillion dollar backing of LIV Golf after Yasir Al-Rumayyan - the fund's governor and chairman of Newcastle - confirmed it was reviewing its deals and investments.

In turn, questions were raised about what that meant for the future of Newcastle - but senior club figures were informed at the time that the pullout did not affect the club. The fund is still viewed as being engaged.

In the club's most recent set of accounts from last season, Newcastle's revenues have more than doubled to £335.3m - from the £140.2m recorded in the final full campaign of Mike Ashley's ownership.

There are also plans for a new state-of-the-art training ground while Newcastle chief executive David Hopkinson has outlined a desire to revamp St James' Park or move stadiums to increase matchday revenue.

The potential appointment of former Red Bull Salzburg boss Matthias Jaissle is also intriguing given he is currently in charge of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli - a club the PIF held a majority stake in until selling it in April.

Read more on the troubles facing Newcastle's Saudi owners here

Manchester United are preparing a bid for Newcastle defender Lewis Hall. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

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Eddie Howe has given Newcastle fans some of our happiest memories.

We broke our trophy drought with him. We got into the Champions League twice with him. We fell back in love with Newcastle United with him. And now he's gone.

Last season was a struggle. This summer's transfer window (and, of course, last summer's transfer window) has been less than inspiring. In those terms, it makes sense that Howe has departed, to make way for someone else to make their mark on the club. Wednesday's defeat at Bristol City in a pre-season friendly sort of cemented that for me.

The timing, despite the thrashing in Bristol, does seem a little odd. The conversation about Howe's future has been in the air since the beginning of the year. It looked certain he would leave after being beaten twice by Sunderland. He stayed. The season ended on a disappointing note.

The timing, for me, is the thing that is difficult to understand. This could have happened in May, at the end of the season, when a lot of high-calibre managers were looking for new clubs. It was clear, at that point, that Howe needed a break.

One of the things we have loved about him as a manager is how much he clearly cares about the team, the club and the city. Our poor performances in the latter part of the season were taking a visible toll on him. Perhaps it would have been a better idea for this amicable separation to have happened at that point?

More than that, however, it would have given us a chance to celebrate Howe's achievements. Some might scoff at that, but I prefer to be a bit romantic with it all.

Maybe him leaving this way is football, and the nature of the beast. I just hope when we look back what we remember is the magic, because it really was for a while.

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The timing of Eddie Howe's exit is the biggest surprise for me - three weeks into pre-season, and with only three weeks to go until the Premier League starts again.

I don't know exactly what has gone on behind the scenes for this to happen now but I guess, from his point of view, he was seeing his best players being sold - first Alexander Isak, then Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali this summer - and with speculation over captain Bruno Guimaraes' future too.

He has probably thought it was a tough enough job anyway, but it is just getting tougher.

You cannot keep on selling your best players and then hope to be in contention at the top of the table. I hope I'm wrong, but it is probably inevitable that Bruno will be next to leave.

Whatever Bruno's intentions were before, when Eddie was in charge, then he must look now and think well, we are selling our stars and now the manager, who he clearly had a great rapport with, has gone too.

It's not just the players leaving that is a bad look, it is seeing a series of attempted signings fail to get over the line as well.

Hugo Ekitike, Johan Manzambi and Victor Munoz all went to Liverpool or Aston Villa ahead of Newcastle in the past 12 months, and now it also looks like James Trafford has chosen Leeds instead.

That's something else that Eddie has maybe looked at, because there has to be a reason why Newcastle are not getting so many of their targets.

Losing the manager on top of all this is a huge blow, especially a high-calibre one like Eddie who is going to get some huge job offers from home and abroad off the back of his achievements at St James' Park.

I think even someone really experienced would find the situation a difficult one and Matthias Jaissle, who is expected to get the job, is only 38.

While he has been successful with Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, you cannot really compare that to working in the Premier League, which is a completely different beast.

Read more from Shearer

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Newcastle fan Samantha Rees has told BBC Radio 5 Live that Eddie Howe "will go down as one of our best managers in modern times" regardless of last season's underwhelming finish.

Speaking on the Football Daily podcast, Rees said she "couldn't believe it" when she heard the news on Thursday morning that Howe is expected to leave the club with immediate effect.

She had been at Bristol City on Wednesday for the pre-season friendly defeat.

"Social media is toxic and you had some fans that really wanted him out last season, but I always thought they should give him a bit longer," she said.

"We didn't have a very good season, but I was very shocked [by the news]. I really thought he might have given it a bit longer.

"In terms of fans that are at the matches, I'd say 70% were behind Eddie, but the other 30% thought he had gone as far as he could.

"He won us the [League Cup] trophy and got us into the Champions League [twice], so a lot thought he deserved the chance. Then there was the Alexander Isak saga and players not coming to us, so he was bound to get frustrated.

"I don't blame him [for leaving], but I feel really sad that it has come to this.

"I feel sorry for him as he's probably had no control over the things that have been happening and I hope he knows the majority of the fan base wish him well.

"He will go down as one of our best managers in modern times because he won us a trophy after waiting all that time for it.

"He gave me one of the best days of my life."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

A Football Daily podcast reacting to Eddie Howe's departure from Newcastle is now live on BBC Sounds.

John Bennett is joined by Telegraph's Luke Edwards to discuss why exactly Howe is leaving and Newcastle fan Samantha Rees tells of her shock hearing the news just three weeks out from the new Premier League campaign.

You can also hear all about the frontrunner to replace Howe, Matthias Jaissle, from German football writer Constantin Eckner.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

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We asked for your views on the news that manager Eddie Howe is set to leave the club with immediate effect after almost five years in charge.

Some fans think the change is a good one...

Gareth: Thanks for the cup Eddie, but you said it yourself that you didn't have a plan B and that was your downfall - losing loads of points from a winning position because you only had one tactic that other teams worked out. Fans could see that playing players out of position wasn't working but you just carried on and it cost us a lot of points. Thanks Eddie, but time to change.

Lewis: I feel that this is the right time for Eddie Howe to go, he isn't the right manager to take us to where we want to be, however I don't think the owners have backed him enough to improve the players or improve the depth of the squad. I would just like to thank Eddie for the Champions League nights and getting a first trophy in 70 years.

Russell: Sadly I think it's the right decision for him and the club. We have not played well for a while and he's taken us as far as he can. That said, for me he still leaves as a legend for what he did for the club. He should never have to pay for a pint in Newcastle again and forever will be an honorary Geordie. Thanks for everything Eddie, good luck for the future.

But others are "devastated"...

Ruli: This is a terrible development. Despite the challenges last season, I feel that the majority of the fanbase still supported Howe. Replacing him with an unknown quantity just before the start of the season is arguably the worst possible outcome. I have very low expectations of this season now. Thank you Eddie for dragging us from the brink of relegation, you are our most successful manager for decades!

Sue: Devastated to see Eddie go. Gave us hope, joy, belief and our first domestic trophy in 70 years. And a great bloke, humble and calm. Think this is the definite sign that Bruno Guimaraes is going too. Thanks for all the memories, there were much more highs than lows during the last five years. Love you Eddie and wish you well in whatever you do. Will miss you and never forget you.

Lauren: As a Newcastle fan, Eddie Howe leaving is genuinely devastating. Players come and go - that's football - but managers like Eddie don't come around often. People never seem to give him the credit or respect he deserves. For a club that's constantly written off, mocked, or labelled as "just a mid-table team," he carried an unbelievable amount of pressure and criticism. Yet he helped transform the club and gave us memories that many of us will never forget. I truly wish him nothing but success wherever he goes. I'm incredibly grateful for everything he did for Newcastle, and honestly, I'm nervous about what comes next. Anyone celebrating this clearly doesn't understand what Eddie Howe meant to this club. Today is a really sad day for Newcastle United.

Paul: Bizarre timing. If the decision was made, why wait until there are only 25 days before the season starts? Now you've got to find the right manager, get them through the door, and somehow expect them to implement a completely new system in less than four weeks. Either make the change earlier in the summer or back the man you've got. I just don't understand the logic.

David: Howe has done a great job under difficult circumstances. The first manager to bring silverware to the club in decades. Really sorry to hear this news. Some of the fan base are unrealistic in their expectations. God knows where this leaves us as we go into the new season. Very disappointed.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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It is understood that Eddie Howe communicated his intention to leave to the Newcastle hierarchy around a fortnight ago.

Newcastle initially asked him to reconsider to continue leading the club into next season.

Eventually, though, Newcastle accepted Howe's wishes but asked him to stay as they identified his replacement - a request the coach accepted.

Sources insist that Howe does not have another job lined up with his decision purely based on a feeling that his tenure has run its course, and that he will take a break from football before deciding his next steps.

Howe is said to be deeply emotional about the decision but it is one that has been on his mind for a number of months.

BBC Sport understands that the transfer strategy has prompted concern at how the squad is shaping up for next season and how competitive it may be, though that alone is not the only factor in Howe's decision to quit.

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Former Newcastle defender Steve Howey speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle about Eddie Howe's exit: "Shocked but at the same time kind of not.

"Eddie for a long time has basically had to put fires out. You are losing your best players.

"You can understand the frustration with him when he's trying to build something but you're having that semi-taken away losing your best players. It's always going to be difficult.

"You can understand his frustration.

"There's never a good time to lose a manager. The fans are going to be very frustrated he's leaving at this moment but as I said, there's never really a good time to lose one.

"He's been an excellent manager. On social media you get people saying 'Eddie needs to go'. I've never been one for that. Sometimes people think the grass is greener and that is not the case on times.

"The next manager need to get the city, to know the people, to get how important being manager of Newcastle United is. If you don't get that, straight away you are fighting a losing battle. So you need somebody who wants to come in, embrace the area, the fans and club. If they do that initially, that's a good start."

Listen to Howe above and listen to fan reaction here

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We asked for your views on the news that manager Eddie Howe is set to leave the club with immediate effect after almost five years in charge.

Here are some of your comments:

Ben: Eddie Howe gave Newcastle its spark back - hauling the club out of the relegation scrap, delivering that unforgettable Champions League return, rebuilding players who looked finished, and serving up some of the most fearless football St James' Park has seen in years. His time was full of graft, pride and proper memories, and whatever comes next, he's earned every bit of respect in Newcastle. Local hero.

Roger: This is a total disaster. For years Eddie Howe has been the cool headed master tactician and inspiration of the club's success. He will be difficult to replace. Right now Newcastle look like a serious relegation prospect.

Hazel: Heartbroken season ticket holder! Eddie Howe performed nothing short of miracles turning the team around and going on to win the cup. Despite the mess at the end of last season, management changes, PSR rules and injuries, he did a reasonable job to hold things together. I thought the new recruits were positive given his ability to develop players. Positive anticipation of coming season has just evaporated. Same old Newcastle.

Tom: If there was ever a worse time to lose a manager its now. Middle of pre-season. This I think will set us back years. Eddie got Newcastle and the city. He had an awful season last year but I think he earned the benefit of the doubt. He's lost two and maybe about to be three of his best players. And although we recruited with young talent, we have not recruited anyone with any proven Premier League experience. I hope I am wrong but this could be our downfall. Thank you Eddie for giving us some of the best memories.

Simon: I understand Newcastle fans' frustrations with last season, but the 'Eddie Howe out' crew need to be careful what they've wished for. Only time will now tell and I hope for the sake of the club that we move forward positively. Eddie has to leave with everyone's best wishes for what he has brought to the club.

Have your say and tell us how you feel about Howe's departure?

Get in touch with your views here

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Matthias Jaissle, manager of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, is expected to be appointed as Eddie Howe's successor.

Jaissle joined Al-Ahli in 2023 and led the Saudi club to back-to-back AFC Champions League titles in 2024-25 and 2025-26.

The 38-year-old spent his entire playing career in his native Germany, progressing through the Stuttgart youth system before playing senior football for Hoffenheim from 2007 to 2014.

Capped by Germany at Under-21 level, the defender was forced to retire through injury at the age of 25.

Jaissle began his coaching career as assistant manager at Danish side Brondby, before he took charge of Austrian second division side Liefering.

He succeeded Jesse Marsch as RB Salzburg manager in 2021, and won back-to-back Austrian Bundesliga titles and the Austrian Cup.

Read more on the managerial change

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Eddie Howe's place in Newcastle folklore is assured, despite a frustrating final season in charge.

The Englishman's reign spanned 231 games, with only Sir Bobby Robson and Kevin Keegan managing more matches for the Magpies in the past 50 years. Newcastle won 46.9% of their Premier League fixtures under Howe, second only to their win rate under Keegan (51.2%).

The former Bournemouth boss inherited a side second from bottom and five points from safety after replacing Steve Bruce in November 2021, but quickly steadied the ship and guided Newcastle to a comfortable 11th-place finish six months later.

He went on to secure Champions League qualification twice, while his crowning glory came in the 2025 EFL Cup final, when Newcastle claimed their first major domestic trophy since 1955.

Weakened by Alexander Isak's British-record £125m departure, Howe's side struggled to hit those heights last season, losing 17 league games and keeping just eight clean sheets.

With Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon also sold, and uncertainty over the future of captain Bruno Guimaraes, a major rebuild now awaits Howe's successor.

Matthew Raisbeck
BBC Radio Newcastle's Newcastle United commentator

BBC Radio Newcastle's Matthew Raisbeck reacts to Eddie Howe's imminent departure: "Speaking to Eddie Howe last night, I did feel he was a man who probably wouldn't be at Newcastle United for very much longer.

"I've been speaking to him for five years and you get to know somebody's ways don't you. I just felt maybe this was coming at some point. The timing is maybe a surprise.

"But Howe, with Champions League football, brilliant, exciting, attacking play, great nights, great goals, great results, wonderful memories. He's a Newcastle United hero and legend. He will always be remembered as one of the great Newcastle United managers. There is no doubt about that."

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