“Behind the scenes of the Newcastle civil war”. This is how the Daily Mail headlines an article this Friday morning devoted to the current situation of the Magpies. And for good reason. Despite a convincing start to the season with two wins and a draw in three Premier League games, the popular club from the north of England – now managed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) – is coming out of a particularly turbulent summer. Last June, the former co-owners of the Geordies, Amanda Staveley, and her husband, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, abruptly left the ship. Two departures motivated by Darren Eales, the general manager, who felt that there were too many decision-makers on Tyneside. A restructuring accompanied by the arrival of Paul Mitchell, who had worked for AS Monaco and succeeded Dan Ashworth as sporting director. Significant changes, which are now the source of some dissension…
A summer transfer window at the heart of discord
With this in mind, the English press has been alarmed in recent days by the conflictual relationship between Paul Mitchell and Eddie Howe, coach of the Magpies since November 2021. It must be said, in this respect, that the former manager of the Asémistes was quick to make headlines at St James’ Park. After a disappointing summer transfer window where the Toon Army failed to secure any notable reinforcements despite the departures of Yankuba Minteh (€35M, Brighton) and Elliot Anderson (€41.2M, Nottingham Forest), the Stalybridge native spoke out to justify his first maneuvers in the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear. “Was our model in place to be able to spend more? I don’t think so because we didn’t sell enough players during that period, except for what we were forced to do through the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR).”.
Why PIF took possession of Newcastle
As a reminder, the regulations stipulate that Premier League clubs cannot suffer more than £105 million in losses over a three-year period. Under pressure this summer, when its transfer window after being bought by the Saudi Public Investment Fund had created a huge deficit in 2021, Newcastle had to make do. As a result, while Lewis Hall (recruited permanently for €33 million), William Osula (Sheffield United, €11.6 million), Lloyd Kelly (Bournemouth, free), John Ruddy (Birmingham, free) and Odysseas Vlachodimos (Nottingham Forest, €23.6 million), under bizarre conditions, arrived in the north-east of England, the Magpies did not really strengthen their squad. At least their starting eleven. Enough to weaken Paul Mitchell, the new architect of the English team? Nothing could be less certain…
Mitchell’s statements are causing a stir…
Asked about this surprisingly quiet summer window, the former strategic advisor to Cercle Brugge preferred to point the finger at the club’s recruitment department, considered, according to him, as “not fit for purpose”. And to add: “Other clubs have taken a different approach over time, with more intelligence, more data than us and have logically thrived in this window. That’s where we need to grow from now on. Look at the money we’ve invested so far, £250m net over the last two and a half years.”. A media release that has caused a lot of turbulence at St James’ Park, but also its share of rumours, starting with the possible departure of… Paul Mitchell, frustrated by the turn of events. And that’s not all. Usually discreet in front of the media, Eddie Howe also seems to harbour a certain bitterness.
So, while Newcastle have been linked to several high-profile names throughout the summer, whether it be Marc Guehi, in the colours of Crystal Palace, or Anthony Elanga, linked to Nottingham Forest until June 2028, the Geordies have ultimately failed to strengthen the priority positions, namely a central defender and a hard-hitting winger. Failures partly justified by the still unstable institutional context but also certain disagreements on the recruitment strategy. Invited last July to the NUFC pre-season training camp in southern Germany, some journalists were also able to verify the English manager’s concern about the turn taken by Newcastle in recent weeks. Eddie Howe did not hesitate to mention “these new relationships” and so this prospect of seeing Paul Mitchell but also the new performance director, James Bunce, occupy an increasingly important place.
England on the lookout…
“It’s fascinating what’s happening at Newcastle at the moment. From the outside, and I’m not inside Newcastle, if I’m a Newcastle fan, then there are alarm bells ringing. He (Howe) spoke about the concerns in the summer, he spoke about not being aligned with certain people, he spoke about the hierarchy at the club. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Eddie Howe become the next England manager. Newcastle fans must be worried. What happens next at Newcastle?”the former Blackburn Rovers and Celtic striker Chris Sutton warned. And for good reason. At a time when many differences are appearing within the English board, Eddie Howe – who has just lost Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi, two powerful allies – could decide to set sail. The British media then rushed to point out that the Amersham native is still coveted by the English Federation for the position of Three Lions coach, at a time when Lee Carsley is taking over the interim.
Rumours finally pushing the interested party to reaffirm his commitment to St James’ Park. Adored by the supporters, supported by his hierarchy since his arrival and with a playing philosophy that has already proven itself – PSG can testify to this – Eddie Howe intends to do everything to find a positive outcome to this mixed relationship with Paul Mitchell. With this in mind, The Telegraph also claims that the two men have “got to know each other” over the past few weeks and are now ready to put the previous problems to bed “behind them”. “Both men know what they stand for. There have been no arguments in recent weeks. They have gotten to know each other and how they want to work.”noted, in this regard, a source close to the club. Unbeaten after three Premier League matches, with seven points and qualified for the third round of the EFL Cup, where he will face AFC Wimbledon, Howe also preferred to play the rapprochement card.
“Solidarity always drives me forward. When you come to work every day, your interactions with the players and the staff we have here are an absolute pleasure and a privilege. I think we have a great team spirit, and that’s something we have to protect at all costs. The people we’ve recruited so far have helped us get to where we are.”recalled, in this sense, the former manager of Bournemouth. Enjoying considerable autonomy until now, Eddie Howe will therefore have to deal with the arrival of Paul Mitchell, known for his frankness and his desire to impose his style. After a turbulent summer, all these people seem, whatever happens, to have the intention of working hand in hand for the good of Newcastle. Until when? Answer in the coming weeks, but there is no doubt that the English Federation will continue to closely scrutinize the situation on Tyneside…
