Newcastle had succession plan ready for Eddie Howe departure

Sporting director Ross Wilson revealed that the club had been preparing for the possibility of Howe's departure for as long as nine months, although Newcastle did not anticipate the former head coach would actually step away when he did.

"We always knew where we were going to go," Wilson said. "That doesn't mean we were always going to Matthias, but he was always part of our planning.

"Part of our responsibility as leaders of the club is to be prepared and Eddie is an exceptionally talented coach.

"That means he was probably going to do something else at some point so we had to be prepared for that."

Howe, who had spent nearly five years in charge, had originally planned to continue into the 2026/27 campaign. However, after feeling drained, he decided that taking a break was the right decision for everyone involved.

Wilson dismissed suggestions that the change was "chaotic" or "painful", insisting Newcastle had a succession strategy ready. Following consideration of several candidates, Matthias Jaissle emerged as the preferred choice and was appointed Howe's replacement.

The club wanted its new manager to preserve the foundations built under Howe, including an aggressive, high-pressing style. Jaissle's record of nurturing young talent, particularly during his time at Red Bull Salzburg, also made him a strong fit.

Newcastle are increasingly targeting players aged 24 and under, making Jaissle's experience particularly relevant to their recruitment plans.