England managerial candidate Eddie Howe has hinted he could leave Newcastle United if the club try to change how he operates.
The FA are on the lookout for a successor to Gareth Southgate and 90min understands Howe is one of the candidates shortlisted.
Howe’s contract at St James’ Park runs until 2027 and the FA would have to pay a release clause north of £5m if they are to appoint him as England manager.
Speaking in an interview while away on Newcastle’s pre-season training camp in Germany, Howe insisted he is not thinking about taking the England job, but stressed the conditions must be right if he is to continue with the Magpies.
“I absolutely want to stay, but it has to be right for me and the football club. There’s absolutely no point in me saying I’m happy staying at Newcastle if the dynamic isn’t right. I’m certainly not serving Newcastle well if I do that,” Howe said.
“So, as long as I am happy, feel supported, feel free to work in the way that I want to work, I have not thought of anything else other than Newcastle. I absolutely love the club. I love the supporters. I love where I am at in my career. There is no better place for me to be.”
Newcastle recently announced the departures of co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi – two of Howe’s main allies at boardroom level – while Paul Mitchell has succeeded Dan Ashworth as sporting director.
Howe acknowledged this upheaval but used it to reinforce his point that he wants to maintain a level of control within the club’s new ‘dynamic’.
“There has been a lot of change at the football club this summer. It has been a very difficult summer for everyone connected with the club. With change comes always a new feeling,” he continued.
“You can point to PSR, Amanda and Mehrdad, a change in sporting director which, of course, influences me. These are all big changes. That is why I’ve made the points that I have, because this has to work for Newcastle.
“It’s not about me as the manager. I’m slightly irrelevant. It’s about making sure Newcastle United is as strong as it can be for the next season and beyond. We’ve all got to come together and make sure we are the force that we want to be.
“For me, it’s not about England. That is absolutely someone else’s conversation, not mine. Mine is Newcastle. To speak about something else while manager of Newcastle is wrong. I don’t think I have to say the answer again. The answer is clear.”
When asked if he…
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