Howe speaks out on Staveley, Mitchell, Minteh and Anderson via BBC Newcastle
During Newcastle’s training camp in Germany, Eddie Howe spent an hour or so with the media answering questions on the events that have happened at St James’ Park over the summer.
While talk of the England job quite rightly was the focus of the media questions, BBC Newcastle asked about some of the other issues that have come out of the club of the last few weeks, such as exits for Amanda Staveley, Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh, along with the appointment of Paul Mitchell.
When asked about the departures of Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi, Eddie had this to say.
“It was a real summer of change, the previous two and half years have been stable, and it was a good environment for him, his staff and players. The club has been run really well and will continue to do so. There was change at board level with Amanda and Mehrdad leaving a new sporting director arriving and PSR issues. It was a real summer of work.
“There were good outcomes, Paul Mitchell is an outstanding sporting director, and it was a good decision by the club. PSR was tight and resolved very late with a good outcome but sad to lose both outstanding young players. It was unusual compared to previous summers but feel we’re in a strong position”.
On the departures of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh, Howe added:
“We would have loved to have kept them and it was disappointing to lose them both but the club were backed into a corner and were in a difficult position. Everyone was involved, up to board level, to make the right decision for the long-term future of the club. It’s as good an outcome as we could’ve hoped for but it’s sad to lose the players, especially Elliot Anderson, after bringing him through the system. We don’t want to be developing players and then lose them but the rules dictated that and it was no one’s fault. It’s the same for Yankuba, sad to lose him but we got there in terms of PSR”.
Questioned on the arrival of Paul Mitchell as sporting director, Eddie spoke briefly but positively.
“I’ve bumped into him a couple of times (when both were working on the south coast with Bournemouth and Southampton respectively) but nothing more than that. I hope I can build a good working relationship with him in making the right decisions for the club. The early signs are promising and he’s the right person to lead the club forward, has passion, makes good decisions he’s a really good decision maker, so yeah it all looks positive”.
I think after the dust settled and, after some misleading headlines, the future looks a lot more positive for us. It’s early days but our manager and sporting director are both speaking highly of each other. Of course, there are wrinkles that need ironing out, boundaries to be created but hopefully this can lead us to a bright future.
It’s natural for the manager to feel a little uncomfortable after two of his biggest supporters left the club a little out of the blue. The sporting side of the club has changed to a model we haven’t really had before and one that all the big clubs employ. It feels like this is phase two in the club’s quest to reach the elite of English and European football.
It’s a huge summer for the club to regain stability after a short period of upheaval as Eddie said it’s been a stable environment for two and a half years while we move from relegation candidates to a top 7 side. Transfers are absolutely paramount as the squad’s limitations were exposed last year, a centre back, right winger and forward are desperately needed the latter has become an issue with Callum Wilson crocked again.
It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster these last couple of weeks but, then again, isn’t it always?
