Newcastle have made big decision without any input from Eddie Howe

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Eddie Howe has had a good relationship with Newcastle’s owners since his appointment and has had a big influence on the club’s decisions.

However, it is understood that Howe had no say in the latest call made by the club.

Since Howe’s arrival on Tyneside in 2021 he has overseen an upward trajectory of the club. He led Newcastle to their first Cup Final in over two decades and delivered Champions League football to St James’ Park for the first time since 2003/04.

There have been a lot of changes already to Newcastle’s squad this summer, with the departure of senior players Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie following the expiry of their contracts.

Howe was reluctant to lose either player, as he was with the sales of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules.

The Newcastle manager was involved in the decisions to allow players to leave this summer. However, in what is a rare change of tact from the Magpies, The Athletic are reporting the appointment of their new Sporting Director was an ‘entirely club-led call.’

Newcastle make a key appointment without Howe’s input

Paul Mitchell’s arrival in place of Dan Ashworth is considered to be a real coup by the club. Newcastle had approached the former Monaco Sporting Director after placing Ashworth on gardening leave, but Mitchell wanted to consider his options after leaving the Ligue 1 side.

The club are said to be delighted that Mitchell agreed to join the club, and in the same breath kept his appointment quiet until the deal was made official.

But Mitchell must now build long-term foundations at the club, and Newcastle will hope he can remain in post for a lot longer than Ashworth, who lasted less than two years.

Mitchell must now seek to build strong relations with Howe

Howe’s preference was for the club to appoint a Sporting Director before the start of the transfer window, as reported by NewcastleWorld. That didn’t quite happen but Mitchell’s arrival will help take the pressure off Howe, who can now focus fully on pre-season.

Mitchell and Howe have not had a previous working relationship and only knew of each other from a distance. It is now vital for the club that the two key figures build a strong understanding to ensure the club grows successfully.

Mitchell’s work on improving the Newcastle squad this summer begins straight away, in what is set to be a busy few months at St James’ Park.