EXCLUSIVE: Jonjo Shelvey made a comment that could irk some Newcastle United fans as he opened up on his relationship with Eddie Howe and the PIF takeover from Mike Ashley
Jonjo Shelvey of Newcastle United acknowledges the fans at half time during the Carabao Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg match between Newcastle United and Southampton at St James' Park
Jonjo Shelvey waves farewel to Newcastle United(Image: 2023 AMA Sports Photo Agency/Getty Images)
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As Newcastle United supporters celebrated the end of Mike Ashley's reign at the club, Jonjo Shelvey felt conflicted. The streets were turned black and white, smiles lined the town centre, and celebratory drinks were chugged in the street.
Shelvey, who announced his retirement from football to become the manager of Dubai side Arabian Falcons this week, adored the fans, proclaiming "you will not find love at a football club like I found at Newcastle" last year. But when it came to Ashley, the Sports Direct tycoon and much reviled former chief at St. James' Park, the ex-Magpies' midfielder's position diverged from the fan base he loved so much.
Ashley brought Shelvey to the club from Swansea City for £12million in 2016, with the player driving up from South Wales to the Tyneside to seal the deal. The ex-England international, who was in the dressing room when the consortium spearheaded by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund took over, admitted he had a huge level of respect for Ashley.
In an exclusive interview with Chronicle Live, Shelvey said: "For me, I loved Mike Ashley. I thought he was great. He actually brought me to the club. But he's a very, very clever businessman at the end of the day.
"Obviously, he probably didn't invest as much as what the fans would have liked. When you see the reaction of the fans when the Saudis took over, I remember I was speaking to Paul Dummett and he drove through the city centre when there was a big rally outside the stadium and they all had cans of beers.
"I remember just sitting there watching the local news and it was just mad. Then you see the reaction they got on game day from it. It was always going to be a slow rebuild, if you like, in terms of facilities, etc. Obviously, you're in a much better place. I think they've been a bit restricted in terms of the financial side of it, in terms of spending on players and having to sell players as well.”
Mike Ashley wearing a Newcastle scarf
Ashley was an unpopular figure at St James' Park over the course of his 14 years in charge(Image: PA)
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Shelvey remained at the club until January 2023, when he moved to Nottingham Forest on transfer deadline day, after contributing 18 goals and 25 assists in 202 appearances in the black and white. He fought valiantly for the club through numerous relegation battles, but after the likes of Bruno Guimaraes arrived, Shelvey knew which way the wind was blowing.
He spent around eight months working under Eddie Howe before he departed. Considering Shelvey was one of the most experienced players in the dressing room, many may have interpreted his exit as Howe laying down the law, pushing out the stars of the previous regime and ushering in a new era.
The six-cap England international, however, does not think that. Now he is a manager, Shelvey revealed he will soon be returning to Newcastle so he can watch Howe's training sessions and pick his brains. "I'll speak to Eddie," Shelvey said when asked who he would reach out to for advice during his first steps as a manager.
Former Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has been named manager of Arabian Falcons
Former Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has been named manager of Arabian Falcons
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Former Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has been named manager of Arabian Falcons(Image: Arabian Falcons FC)
"I spoke to him not long ago in terms of asking him whether next time I'm back, if it's okay to drop in and watch him from a different perspective. Obviously, when I was there, I was just solely concentrating on my football career.
"I love Eddie Howe. I think he's one of the best managers that I've worked under, in terms of his management and his detail that he goes into. I've taken a lot from him in terms of the way I want to set my teams up and the way I want to be approachable and the way I want to coach.
"I think they should stay with him, but then they've not been great this year. Being a manager is a cutthroat business at the end of the day. You don't get too much time. But then on the other hand, he's brought a trophy to the football club that the club hadn't had a trophy for so many years. Does that have credit in the bank? You'd like to think so."
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