Eddie Howe willing to ‘step aside’ as Newcastle boss shares thoughts on quitting | Football | Sport

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has emphatically stated he has no plans to walk away from the Magpies – but insists he would if he felt he couldn’t take the team any further. Howe faced jeers from supporters following the weekend’s 3-2 Premier League loss to Brentford at St James’ Park.

Having received public endorsement from chief executive David Hopkinson last week, Howe is believed to have received additional backing from the Canadian ownership and sporting director, Ross Wilson, over the weekend. The manager admitted frankly that no external pressure could exceed what he places upon himself, and remains confident he’ll come through this period stronger, following his first significant rough patch since taking charge.

Speaking at his press conference today, Howe said: “I care so much about what I do. I care so much about the club. The club for me is always No.1, not myself, not any of the players, it is the club. And what that stands for.

“And of course, the players are a huge part of that. So I will always act in the best interests of the club in every decision that I make, whether that is about me or any individual player.

“So I think when you are trying to act in that way, you are trying to think of the bigger picture; the pressure that individuals or other people can put on you is irrelevant. I have to live with my own thoughts of myself and what I am delivering, and I am very honest to say I need to do better, and I will do better.

“It is part of the evolution. It is part of growing and these challenging moments are where you grow the most so I am looking forward to try to do well.”

When questioned about whether he harboured any reservations regarding his suitability for the role, Howe responded: “No, there’s no doubt in my mind, and that’s why I’m sitting here. If there was, then I wouldn’t be because, as I said, the club’s the most important thing.

“As long as I feel that in my heart and my spirit, then my desire and motivation levels are as high as they’ve ever been. I’ll fight every day to my maximum for the club.

“I’d never put myself before the club if I didn’t think I was the correct man to take the team forward and I could give the players what they need, then I would step aside and let someone else do it.”

Pressed on whether he must deliver his finest performance, given Newcastle’s 12th-place position and an upcoming fixture against a struggling Tottenham side, Howe stated: “I think so. I think that’s where your qualities have to come to the fore because that’s when everyone is looking at you to set the tone.

“People want to follow, that’s human nature, so if you have strength as a leader in these moments, you can drag everybody with you, and that’s where it’s the most important time to stand up and show your character and to show how much it means to you.

“That’s what we’re going to try to do, me and the staff. We’ve got a great group of players, we’ve got a really honest group, we’ve got a group that really cares, so I’ve got no issue on that side. We just need the quality in our performances to improve.”