Reports suggest that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is creating uncertainty at Newcastle United amid rumors of dissatisfaction with manager Eddie Howe. In their recent match against Nottingham Forest, Newcastle suffered a 3-1 defeat, with Chris Wood scoring a hat-trick after Alexander Isak had given Newcastle the lead from the penalty spot.
Newcastle has now faced eight defeats in 12 matches, impacting their chances of qualifying for the Champions League. This is a stark contrast to the previous season when, at the same point, Newcastle had only lost one Premier League match and were second in the table under Howe’s management.
After the Forest defeat, Howe admitted to feeling uncomfortable and pledged to address the team’s poor form through hard work on the training ground. He mentioned injuries, lack of physical fitness, and the need for training ground time to refine aspects of their game.
There are reports that PIF, Newcastle’s majority stakeholders, is unhappy with the team’s Champions League exit and that there is increased pressure on Howe. The majority ownership’s thoughts on current results and performances remain unclear, leading to a sense of the unknown at St James’ Park. Despite internal support from the club’s British-based co-owners, there is uncertainty about how PIF will react to the team’s downturn.
Newcastle had a brief boost with a 3-0 victory over Fulham, but subsequent losses to Chelsea, Luton Town, and Forest have intensified pressure on Howe. The Athletic writer Chris Waugh emphasizes the internal support from British-based co-owners but highlights the unknown factor regarding PIF’s stance.
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