Eddie Howe's former ghost writer serves up a reminder of just how far Newcastle United have come in a short space of time
Journalist Graham Nickless
Journalist Graham Nickless
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One of Eddie Howe's staunchest supporters has pleaded with Newcastle United and the club's fanbase to stand by their man - despite the Magpies' tumble to 14th in the Premier League table.
Howe's former Bournemouth ghost writer Graham Nickless has produced reams of column inches during a journalism career that resulted in him developing close friendships with sports stars, legends such as Kevin Keegan, George Best, Nigel Mansell, Dennis Taylor, and Jimmy White, to name a few.
Nickless watched Howe drag Bournemouth up from the lower leagues and into the promised land of the Premier League before being a serious candidate for the England job. But now admits he is taken aback by signs of stinging social media criticism for Howe despite what has been a golden 2025.
Nickless told Chronicle Live: "Maybe the online brigade need to think back where the team stood when Steve Bruce was the gaffer when they sat SECOND BOTTOM of the Premier League?
"My simple message to Newcastle fans with short memories is: Don’t forget what Eddie Howe has done for your club?
"Didn’t he lead the Magpies to their first major honour for 70 years last season when they won the Carabao Cup by beating Liverpool in the final at Wembley?
"Hasn’t he also transformed the team from relegation candidates to Champions League contenders in two of the last four years?
"Didn’t his leading striker, Alexander Isak, go on 'strike' in pre-season to manipulate his move away from the Toon to join Liverpool on transfer deadline day?
"And didn’t Isak’s intended replacement Yoane Wissa find himself out injured with a knee injury almost immediately after he arrived from Brentford?
"That’s why I can’t believe I’m hearing stories from up north that Howe is under pressure at St James’ Park.
"Yes, his team is currently languishing in 14th place in the Premier League and right now are just two points off the drop zone after failing to win one game on the road.
"But isn’t this the same side that have reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals and are sitting in a very respectable sixth place in the UEFA Champions League table having won three of their four ties?
"Eddie Howe under pressure? Are you kidding me…this is the manager who, in four years, has turned the Magpies from a second-rated outfit into feared opposition.
"I know most of the criticism is coming from social media sources while the true fans on the terraces are backing Howe to the hilt."
Nickless summed up the scene as an outsider looking at Newcastle before Howe was appointed by PIF to take the club to a new level. He reflected: "There wasn't a title or cup win in sight with supporters in uproar over how the club had been run by controversial owner Mike Ashley before he sold out to the Saudi-led consortium.
"Having watched and reported on “Steady Eddie” dragging his beloved Bournemouth up from the Football League basement to sit at the Premier League table in two spells I knew he was the right man for Newcastle.
"I heard from the players what a meticulous coach he was and saw first-hand that he was a workaholic who was determined to be a winner at Dean Court.
"And I learnt from our many media exchanges, which he labelled “sparring sessions”, that he was a first-class diplomat and a decent man.
"After a year out of the game while waiting for a “special” club to come along Newcastle was the perfect fit."
As we edge past Howe's four-year anniversary, the Toon manager's CV is impressive with two Champions League qualifications in the bag and a Carabao Cup victory at Wembley over Liverpool. For many Newcastle fans they can die happy at least knowing they watched the Magpies finally win a trophy.
Howe said: "We all know now that he sought out Black and White legends Kevin Keegan and Alan Shearer to get “the feel” of the club before he arrived on Tyneside in November 2021.
"Can you remember the film of Howe arriving in the dark at the Darsley Park training ground on his first day in the job?
"There was a small welcome party waiting for him at the main gate and his car moved past them and drove down the drive.
"But Eddie stopped the vehicle and had the car reversed back to the family so that he could talk and sign autographs.
"This is the same unassuming man, who never seeks publicity or the limelight, who has been working his socks off, backed by his loyal backroom staff, to make Newcastle United a force again.
"Yes, they are not yet at the races on away days but the home fires are burning bright enough to turn their league results around.
"I know from first-hand experience that Eddie never takes his work for granted: He constantly fears that his next game could be his last!
"That’s why he puts his life and soul into his job and, I know from experience, he will be hurting inside because results and performances, especially away from home, have not been good enough.
"But the way I see it down south is that every time Newcastle have a small blip the social media knives quickly come out for Eddie Howe which is quite ridiculous.
"Be very careful what you wish for Newcastle fans because you won’t fully appreciate what you have got until Eddie and his staff have gone."
Graham “Nico” Nickless is author of “Cheers to 50 years…On The Sporting Frontline” which features exclusive interviews with Eddie Howe, Kevin Keegan, Nigel Mansell, Steve Davis and Jimmy White. The book is available now at nicosports.co.uk.