David Hopkinson (left) and Newcastle United manager Eddie Howeplaceholder image
David Hopkinson (left) and Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe | Madison Square Garden, Getty Images
David Hopkinson has once again stated that Eddie Howe has the full backing of the Newcastle United board.
Newcastle United CEO David Hopkinson has reiterated that Eddie Howe is “so important” in a major vote of confidence.
Earlier this month, murmurs of discontent surfaced on social media following the 3-2 home defeat to Brentford. The Toon boss was asked questions over his future less than a year after lifting the Carabao Cup trophy.
Howe’s actions ultimately did the talking, with Newcastle winning three consecutive away games to silence the critics. A narrow defeat to Manchester City and home win over Qarabag have followed to weather the storm at St James' Park.
However, the Magpies still sit 10th in the Premier League ahead of a must-win clash against Everton this weekend. European football is the aim if Newcastle are to continue bridging the gap on the established elite.
David Hopkinson backs Eddie Howe
Speaking to Amazon Prime Video, new CEO Hopkinson doubled down on his support for Howe. The Canadian previously insisted he is the right man for the job while being interviewed by talkSPORT three weeks ago.
"Eddie Howe is so important to this club and what he’s done here, lifting the club’s first trophy in 70 years with the Carabao Cup last year, is remarkable,” Hopkinson said. “What he’s doing on the day-to-day, working incredibly hard, has the support of the club and the ownership."
‘Long-term project’ - David Hopkinson
On the size of the project at Newcastle, Hopkinson added: "This is a long-term project for Newcastle and myself. I came here with high conviction, and this project needs to be viewed as a couple of stages.
“The first being between now and 2030 which is getting organised and raising ambitions from what we maybe previously had, and to then develop the people, players and infrastructure to ensure that revenue we talked about pays off on the pitch."
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Eddie Howe on Newcastle United season
After the Qarabag win last night, Howe admitted this season has been his toughest as Newcastle manager. He said: “It probably has. I paused there as it’s very easy to look back with rose-tinted glasses and always have a positive view on history, and then not realise that times have been hard.
"Taking everything into account, and everything that happened last summer and all the challenges we have faced this season, it probably has yes, but it can still have a great end and we’re trying to be very positive and look to what we can achieve, the Champions League now being number one for our season."
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