Eddie Howe's position as Newcastle manager is at risk after the club's chief executive admitted to holding private talks following the embarrassing defeat against Sunderland at St James' Park
15:24, 31 Mar 2026
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MARCH 22: Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United on the bench before the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park on March 22, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
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Eddie Howe's position at Newcastle is under pressure(Image: Sportsphoto/Allstar, Getty Images)
Fresh uncertainty has emerged surrounding the future of Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe, with club chief David Hopkinson declining to provide any assurances regarding the manager's position.
The pressure mounted on Howe after the 2-1 Tyne-Wear derby loss to Sunderland in Newcastle's most recent fixture, marking 15 years since the Magpies last beat their rivals. Hopkinson has now revealed that he held a two-hour meeting with the manager immediately following the defeat at St James' Park.
Newcastle's CEO outlined the hierarchy's demands for the remaining seven matches of the 2025/26 campaign during media briefings at St James' Park this week, where the club's most recent financial results were examined.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MARCH 22: Eddie Howe the head coach / manager of Newcastle United reacts during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park on March 22, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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Howe's job security was not backed by the Newcastle board(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA, Getty Images)
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The Magpies announced a profit for the first time since the Public Investment Fund's takeover in 2021. However, that is down to the club owners selling the leasehold of St James' Park to another company owned by the club for £172million.
Something that the club cannot claim as profit to UEFA as they remain in serious risk of breaching UEFA's financial rules, according to The Times.
Newcastle's books in 12 months' time will be boosted by Champions League revenue from this campaign, but the club are in serious danger of missing out on European competitions entirely next season.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MARCH 22: Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe watches as Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris celebrates on the final whistle during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park on March 22, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
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Sunderland beat Newcastle at St James' Park earlier this month(Image: Ian Horrocks, Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
This has resulted in mounting pressure on Howe, with the club languishing in 12th position in the Premier League table.
The scrutiny on the manager has intensified following the loss in the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland, and Hopkinson refrained from providing any assurances regarding Howe's long-term future.
Instead, he emphasised the need for everyone at the club to focus on the immediate challenges ahead, which includes testing away matches against Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest before the season concludes.
When pressed about Howe's future, Hopkinson said: "I don't have a stance on his future. What I can tell you is that the derby loss hurt. We take it seriously. There's nothing within us that thinks 'well, it's just three points and on we go'. It has resonated.
"I spent a couple of hours in a one-on-one lunch recently with Eddie, and we talked through a multitude of things, including that. Eddie's our manager. I expect to have a great run to the end of the season here, and we'll talk about the future when it's time. Right now, we're focused on this season's competition."
The chief executive, who reinforced the importance of qualifying for European competition next season, supported by finance director Simon Capper sitting alongside him, said: "I would not frame it that way (open ended). We are not looking to make a change at the moment.
"We are not having those conversations. We are still in the midst of the season. Right now we are focused on the seven matches we have remaining and not distracting ourselves with speculation about what we may or may not do in the summer.
"Right now, all of us have only got so much bandwidth and we are focused on this season and finishing strongly."
Meanwhile, both Capper and Hopkinson emphasised that Newcastle must regard themselves as a 'trading' club, recognising that financial regulations now make purchasing and selling an absolute requirement, and that Howe is completely aware of what awaits in the transfer market.
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This arrives amidst growing speculation surrounding the futures of several of Newcastle's star players, with the likes of Sandro Tonali, Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall and Bruno Guimaraes all being linked with exits this summer.