Newcastle United CEO David Hopkinson discussed Eddie Howe's future at St James Park earlier this week.
The former Bournemouth boss has overseen a remarkable turnaround in fortunes at St James Park after initially taking charge in the aftermath of Steve Bruce’s departure in November 2021. After helping United mount a successful charge away from the Premier League relegation zone with the help of a successful January transfer window, Howe’s first full season on Tyneside brought a shock top four finish, qualification for the Champions League and a first major cup final since 1999 as Manchester United inflicted a 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat on the Magpies.
However, Howe will go down as the manager that ended Newcastle’s 70-year wait for major domestic silverware after he led his side to last season’s Carabao Cup final win against Liverpool. With qualification for the Champions League secured once again, Howe’s position appeared to be secure and there has been little to suggest otherwise until Hopkinson refused to expand on the Magpies manager’s future during a press briefing at St James Park earlier this week.
That is a far cry from Hopkinson’s comments on talkSPORT earlier this year when he appeared to throw his ‘total support’ behind Howe and suggested his work is envied at clubs across the Premier League.
Speaking in February, the Magpies CEO said: “Eddie's our manager and he's an extraordinary manager. We just talked about how much he's envied by other clubs and the national program, so with all due respect to Simon [Jordan], I could not disagree more. Then I guess he won't be going to work with Simon anytime soon. But Eddie's our man and he has our total support here.”
Stance
Eddie Howe, Head Coach of Newcastle United applauds the fans after the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park on March 22, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
Eddie Howe, Head Coach of Newcastle United applauds the fans after the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park on March 22, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
However, the United chief was questioned further on Howe’s future earlier this week as speculation over his long-term future increased after a Tyne-Wear derby defeat against arch rivals Sunderland left the Magpies in the bottom half of the Premier League table and with work to do as they look to secure a European place for the third time in four seasons.
Hopkinson told The Gazette: "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 comments have caused something of a stir amongst Magpies supporters and have triggered talk Howe could be heading into the final stages of his reign at St James Park as he looks to guide his side into European competition between now and the end of the season. However, talkSPORT pundit Jordan has hit out at Hopkinson’s guarded reaction to questions over Howe’s future and suggested the Magpies chief could be set for a ‘cul-de-sac moment’ as people hold him to his previous comments over the United boss and the long-term ambitions of the club.
Responsibility
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talkSPORT - YouTube
Speaking on talkSPORT former Crystal Palace owner and chairman Jordan said: “Is he solely responsible for the hiring and firing of managers? Because that might be someone else's responsibility. That might be the actual ownership's model that decides whether they're going to do that or not. I would imagine that there must be some significant input from the CEO, whose football knowledge is what, whose football expertise is what? So it's interesting to see whether the blind will be leading the deaf in that situation. I don't think it's the greatest thing he's ever said.
“Look, ‘do not have a stance’ on your manager is probably the wrong terminology. Do not be prepared to discuss your manager's future at this moment in time. That will lead, that will set the hares running. But I think it's a little bit better, marginally, tad better than saying you don't have a stance. The not having a stance on Eddie Howe. I don't know whether it's wise moves or whether he's changed his mind or whether that's the style that they operate in, which they don't commit to the media about any direction that they're going to go in.
“I understand why they wouldn't want to because there's nothing to be said. If he turns around and says now he's our manager for the long term, he's going to be greeted with the shortcomings of the season. If he says I'm going to think about his future, they're going to be greeted about the rumours about Eddie Howe's position. Whatever he says, he's going to have a cul-de-sac moment. So the best thing he can do is tell people how he's going to live in the 2030 vision, which he's given no detail of. The fact that I've said for four years, with no disrespect to Eddie Howe intended. The reasons why I say it is not because Eddie Howe is not a capable manager. It's because they can't do it.”
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