According to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, Eddie Howe is the favourite for the Newcastle United job.
The 43-year-old has moved to the front of the queue after Unai Emery turned down a move to St James’ Park on Wednesday.
It had been claimed that the Spaniard was ready to leave Villarreal for Newcastle, but he seemingly changed his mind and rejected Amanda Staveley’s ‘fantastic’ offer.
Now it looks like Howe is going to be the next Newcastle manager, and he will have a point to prove after the Emery debacle.
However, Sky Sports’ Keith Downie doesn’t expect to see Howe in the dugout on Saturday.
Graeme Jones looks set to manage Newcastle against Brighton
“Eddie Howe, I would guess would be the frontrunner now,” Downie said live on Sky Sports News.
“I would say it would be unlikely, unless there’s a big sea change, it would be unlikely that he would be in charge for that match away to Brighton on Saturday.
“But things do change pretty quickly in football. We only saw that this week with the Unai Emery situation.”
That’s a blow for Newcastle, who desperately need a lift on the pitch. The takeover hasn’t changed things, and neither has Steve Bruce’s departure.
The Magpies are in a worrying position and need someone to come in and make the improvements required.
While Downie admits that things could change, time is clearly running out for Newcastle to bring in a new manager in time for the Brighton game.
This isn’t the first time Eddie Howe has spoke to Newcastle
While discussing Howe’s possible move to St James’ Park, Downie claimed that this isn’t the first time the Magpies have spoken to him about becoming manager.
Downie added: “He is someone who has spoken to Newcastle under their previous ownership as well when Mike Ashley was in charge here when things weren’t going too well with Steve Bruce towards the end.”
It’s interesting to know that Bruce replacements were being sounded out during the Ashley era.
For a long time it looked like Bruce was destined to leave the club, with results and performances nowhere near the standard required.
There were big calls from fans for change, but Ashley stood by Bruce.
Perhaps things would be different at Newcastle right now had Howe already been in charge. It may have given the new owners more time to work with, as they would already have a manager they wanted.
Instead, PIF were forced into an early decision to remove Bruce from his position.
Now it looks like Eddie Howe is going to be his replacement. But when that appointment is made remains to be seen.
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