Presenter Simon Jordan has suggested that Eddie Howe may not be Newcastle’s long-term manager if he doesn’t finish inside the top six of the Premier League.
There have been lots of discussions around if Howe is the right man to take Newcastle to the top, but so far he has exceeded expectations.
On talkSPORT, Jordan suggested that, while their position is satisfactory for the short-term, the owners won’t want to be lingering around sixth place in three years time.
Jordan says Newcastle cannot be content with sixth
When PIF took over in October 2021 with the club looking destined for relegation, it’s unlikely that they expected to be in such a strong position just over two years later.
Newcastle are battling hard in the Champions League with a huge game against AC Milan tonight, fighting for another trophy after bitter defeat last season and maintaining a good position in the league.
However, Jordan believes that the Saudi-backed ownership will soon grow frustrated with Howe if they do not see any progression in how Newcastle perform in the next year or two.
Should the Magpies still be floating around a Europa League spot this time next year or the year after then Jordan claims that the club will look for a successor for Howe to really take the club to the next level.
On talkSPORT, Jordan said: “Without diminishing Eddie Howe in any shape or form, he will get them in the right direction and take them in the right direction.
“Will he deliver the outcomes that Amanda Staveley has suggested she wants? Clearly the Saudi’s want, they’re not splattering money around like a drunken sailor in every other sport to subsequently make Newcastle the runt of the litter.
“What they’re doing is they play down the expectation. They’ve come to win and to win as quickly as possible and they’ve got a manger who’s exceeded expectations in the short term.
“But when we talk about the long term, is that this season? Because I don’t think in three years Newcastle will be satisfied with finishing in the top six.”
Howe’s own success could lead to his downfall
No one could have expected the rapid rise of Newcastle in the last two years, going from a team without a win until January to playing in Milan, Paris and Dortmund in the Champions League.
While the money has certainly helped, the incredible turn of form has largely been down to Howe and his coaching staff who have developed a new culture at the club, one vastly different to the toxic atmosphere under the previous regime.
However, that success, reaching fourth place last season way ahead of schedule, has now raised the expectations and puts a lot of pressure on Howe to do it all over again.
As Jordan suggests, there may be some leniency this season given that the extra games and extended injury list has taken its toll on the squad, but they will no doubt be expecting things to pick up next season.
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