RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is set to leave the club with immediate effect, sources have told BBC Sport.
Howe came under pressure last season as Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League after losing 17 of their 38 games.
The 48-year-old's final match in charge was a 4-1 defeat by Bristol City in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday.
Matthias Jaissle, manager of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, is expected to be appointed as Howe's successor.
Howe joined Newcastle in November 2021, a month after the Saudi Public Investment Fund bought the club.
Well-placed sources have indicated a measure of surprise from Howe at the club's transfer business so far this summer, though he was aware of the necessity for the club to sell players.
Earlier this year, Howe decided to remain at St James' Park regardless of the inevitably of sales, but his perspective changed over the summer.
BBC Sport understands potential replacements for Howe were sounded out in July, including Kieran McKenna.
It is understood Howe communicated his intention to leave to the Newcastle hierarchy around a fortnight ago.
Newcastle initially asked him to reconsider and continue leading the club next season.
Eventually, though, Newcastle accepted Howe's wishes but asked him to stay as they identified his replacement - a request the coach accepted.
Sources insist Howe does not have another job lined up, with his decision purely based on a feeling that his tenure has run its course, and that he will take a break from football before deciding his next steps.
Howe is said to be deeply emotional about the decision but it is one that has been on his mind for a number of months.
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In January, he described losing Isak as "ever-challenging", and in several media conferences stressed the need for reinforcements.
Howe has lost two key players this summer - Sandro Tonali to Tottenham and Anthony Gordon to Barcelona - while Arsenal are chasing captain Bruno Guimaraes.
BBC Sport understands that the transfer strategy has prompted concern at how the squad is shaping up for next season and how competitive it may be, though that alone is not the only factor in Howe's decision to quit.
Howe replaced Steve Bruce as manager and ended Newcastle 's 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy by winning the 2025 Carabao Cup.
He led the Magpies to Champions League qualification in 2023 and 2025.
Last season, Newcastle reached the Champions League last 16, losing 8-3 on aggregate to Barcelona.
Their EFL Cup defence ended in the semi-finals, but their league performance was severely underwhelming after finishing fifth in 2024-25.
Newcastle won 84 of their 179 Premier League games under Howe, drawing 38 and losing 57.
He oversaw more Premier League wins - 84 - than any other Newcastle manager. His Premier League win percentage of 46.9% at the club is bettered only by Kevin Keegan.
Jaissle, Howe's expected replacement, joined Al-Ahli in 2023 and led the Saudi club to back-to-back AFC Champions League titles in 2024-25 and 2025-26.
The 38-year-old spent his entire playing career in his native Germany, progressing through the Stuttgart youth system before playing senior football for Hoffenheim from 2007 to 2014.
Capped by Germany at Under-21 level, the defender was forced to retire through injury at the age of 25.
Jaissle began his coaching career as assistant manager at Danish side Brondby, before he took charge of Austrian second division side Liefering.
He succeeded Jesse Marsch as RB Salzburg manager in 2021, and won back-to-back Austrian Bundesliga titles and the Austrian Cup.
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But, when you look at their summer, there is every reason to believe next season will be a struggle.
In an era of financial regulations, having wealthy owners does not automatically mean you can spend big in the transfer window. You have to abide by those rules and that is where Newcastle have come unstuck this summer.
They were perilously close to not complying with those rules and that was key in the decision to sell Tonali and Gordon.
With that, if Guimaraes was to leave as well, it would probably have been a step too far for Howe.
He may look at the current squad and the recruitment of young, unproven players and think they could struggle this season. There was a feeling from his perspective that maybe it was the right time to walk away.
Charlotte Robson, True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast: The timing, for me, is the thing that is difficult to understand. We could have done this in May, at the end of the season, when a lot of high-calibre managers were looking for new clubs.
It was clear, at that point, that Eddie Howe needed a break. One of the things we have loved about him as a manager is how much he clearly cares about the team and the club and the city.
Our poor performances in the latter part of the season were taking a visible toll on him. Perhaps it would have been a better idea for this amicable separation to have happened at that point?
Ben: Eddie Howe gave Newcastle its spark back - hauling the club out of the relegation scrap, delivering that unforgettable Champions League return, rebuilding players who looked finished, and serving up some of the most fearless football St James' Park has seen in years.
His time was full of graft, pride and proper memories, and whatever comes next, he's earned every bit of respect in Newcastle . Local hero.
Roger: This is a total disaster. For years, Eddie Howe has been the cool headed master tactician and inspiration of the club's success. He will be difficult to replace. Right now Newcastle look like a serious relegation prospect.
Hazel: Heartbroken season-ticket holder! Eddie Howe performed nothing short of miracles turning the team around and going on to win the cup. Despite the mess at the end of last season, management...
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