Eddie Howe makes resignation admission amid poor Newcastle form

Eddie Howe has insisted he would step down if he felt he was no longer the right man to lead Newcastle.

The Magpies boss is under mounting pressure after suffering a third defeat in seven days with a 3-2 home loss to Brentford on Saturday, which saw his side booed off at full-time.

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It followed a nightmare run of form for Howe’s side, who have won just one of their last eight games in all competitions.

Just three days before their weekend defeat, Newcastle were dumped out of the Carabao Cup after being thrashed 5-1 on aggregate by Manchester City in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile in the Premier League, they have slipped to 12th off the back of three straight defeats to Aston Villa, Liverpool and Brentford.

With just one win in eight altogether, this has sparked speculation that Howe could walk away from his role at the end of the season.

Since taking charge in 2021, the Englishman has led Newcastle to the Champions League twice and delivered a first major trophy in over 70 years with Carabao Cup glory in 2025.

‘No doubt in my mind’

Despite a challenging campaign, which has seen his team suffer with injuries and a packed schedule, Howe has maintained his belief that he is the right man at the helm.

Speaking ahead of Newcastle’s trip to Tottenham on Tuesday, he said: “There’s no doubt in my mind [I’m the right man] and that’s why I’m sat here.

“If there was, then I wouldn’t be, because the club’s the most important thing. I’d never put myself before the club.

“If I didn’t think I was the correct man to take the team forward, and I couldn’t give the players what they need, then I would step aside and let someone else do it.”

Howe then insisted that he remains motivated to lead the club for as long as he continues to feel he should be in charge at St James’ Park.

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Asked if he had the same appetite as when he first took charge, the 48-year-old replied: “The club’s always No 1.

“From my perspective, I’ve got to think that I am the right person for the job and I’m giving value and I’m helping the players.

“As long as I feel that in my heart and in my spirit, then my desire and my motivation levels are as high as they’ve ever been.

“But I think that’s the key question I always have to ask myself: ‘Am I the right person to take the team and the club forward?’.”

Howe holds himself accountable

Howe’s fighting talk comes just two days after he previously said he wasn’t performing well enough in his role.

Following defeat to Brentford, the Magpies manager said: “I always say the pressure I put on myself could not be more extreme.

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“I demand really high standards from what I am doing and how I work, and what I ask the players to do.

“I’m obviously not doing my job well enough at the moment.

“I’m annoyed with myself, angry with myself, blaming myself, taking full accountability on my shoulders. No one else.”

While Newcastle find themselves in a difficult spell, they are still fighting on several fronts.

Howe’s side face Azerbaijan outfit Qarabag in the play-offs for the Champions League round of 16, and have a FA Cup fourth-round tie against Aston Villa on Saturday.

And despite dropping into the bottom half of the Premier League table, the Toon Army are just six points off seventh-place Brentford, in what is likely the cut-off point for European qualification.