Stan Collymore misunderstands Newcastle United…

Stan Collymore misunderstands Newcastle United direction with Eddie Howe sacking claim

Stan Collymore claims Newcastle United could sack Eddie Howe if they secure Champions League football this season, in one of the wildest takes so far. The Magpies are currently sat third in the Premier League table after an incredible year under Howe.

The former Bournemouth boss has transformed the Toon from relegation favourites into Champions League contenders in just two transfer windows. While the former Liverpool striker is full of praise for Howe, he believes the owners would seriously consider bringing in someone with Champions League experience.

Speaking in his column with Caught Offside, Collymore said: "Newcastle will consider sacking Eddie Howe, even if they qualify for the Champions League. As I just mentioned, Newcastle United may be one of the only clubs able to hire and fire their manager at will and that’s because they have endless amounts of money to spend.

"Don’t get me wrong, I know Eddie Howe is doing an absolutely phenomenal job there but if the Magpies do qualify for the Champions League, I’m sure the owners will at least have the conversation about sacking him and bringing someone else in with pre-established European pedigree. In terms of Howe’s experience of managing a club competing on multiple domestic and European fronts, he doesn’t have any.

"Maybe the owners will say ‘he’s done so well, we’ll give him a chance’ – but I do really believe they’ll consider parting ways in favour of a manager who has the experience that Howe lacks because if you’re Newcastle United and suddenly you’re in the Champions League, why on earth wouldn’t you consider going out and trying to bring in a top, top manager? I think it’d be incredibly naive of Newcastle United’s owners to not consider sacking Howe if they qualified for the Champions League.

"I want to stress though – I really hope that wouldn’t happen. I’d love Howe to be given the chance to try his hand at the Champions League if he gets Newcastle that far but I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if it did."

Of course, there lies some truth in what Collymore says - Howe has no Champions League experience. But, to suggest the club would part ways after achieving an incredible feat, is so far wide of the mark.

The owners have stressed the need for a gradual rebuild at St. James' Park and supporters are right behind them. They've already shown their patience in allowing former boss Steve Bruce to reach his 1,000th game in management, albeit a decision that backfired with the Toon fanbase.

It's a learning curve for the current owners, but the appointments of Darren Eales and Dan Ashworth show the club is heading in the right direction. Howe only signed a new deal with the club in the summer after keeping them up, further proof if it were needed, that they'll give the head coach time to take the club to where they want to be competing.

There's no expectancy from supporters to even finish in the top-four this season, albeit some would be disappointed given the calibre of the rest of the division and a lack of European football to contend with this season. There's a sense of opportunity on Tyneside, but also an err of caution in getting above their station too early.

Champions League football would be an over achievement this season, with many supporters happy to battle for a Europa Conference League spot. As supporters were quick to remind outsiders during their previous ownership, they don't demand a team that wins, they demand a team that tries.

Howe has instilled that belief and to suggest the club would sack him in order to bring in a more experienced coach would be the biggest own goal of the new regime.

Stan Collymore misunderstands Newcastle United direction with Eddie Howe sacking claim

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