Fans have watched on as Saudi super stadium concept images have been posted online, but Eddie Howe knows United must make most of St James’ Park
Newcastle United’s St James’ Park was in full voice against PSV(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
Eddie Howe admits that Newcastle United could do with a Saudi super stadium to help bolster their PSR hopes – but insists that St James’ Park remains a fortress and huge weapon he can use to qualify for the Champions League again.
The Magpies face Aston Villa this weekend as they bid to get back in touch with the top five, but in a week in which the Deloitte Money League revealed Newcastle had slipped down two places to 17th and a revenue piled of £335m – trailing in the wake of Liverpool (£702m), Man City (£697m) and Arsenal (£690m).
On Wednesday, Howe was blown away by the sparkling atmosphere against PSV Eindhoven and would love to see that transferred on to the top-flight stage when Villa come to Tyneside. With Bournemouth, Leeds, and Crystal Palace all announcing plans for improved stadiums, Newcastle fans are still awaiting updates on what happens next at St James’.
Howe said: “We love playing at St James’ Park. The PSV game was one of the best atmospheres we have experienced this season without a doubt.
“I thought it was a return to the really special European nights we have experienced previously. I am really thankful to the crowd for what they gave us.”
CEO David Hopkinson has made it clear Newcastle are staying at St James’ Park for at least a couple more years, with Euro 2028 set to host group games and a possible England knockout match, and Howe has no qualms with how things stand as 50,000 home fans prepare for the Villa game.
Howe said: “There is no issue with the stadium at all. It is an iconic stadium and an incredible place to play football.
“I absolutely love being involved and being there.
“The challenge we face is, with the numbers (money league) figures coming out, the income generated needs to go up.
“One of our biggest ways of doing that is a new stadium.”
Howe is very much one of the top modern managers, but while his primary function is tactics, training, and recruitment, he knows he must also view things as an accountant to get a clear picture of what can be achieved when it comes to new signings.
Howe said: “I was interested to see the money leagues yesterday. They made interesting reading for us, because it shows we’ve got a long way to go in terms of revenue.
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“I know people are bored of us talking about it, but it’s factual. Building our revenues will be so important, and I know there’s a lot of work behind the scenes to do that.
“I have always had the belief that, whatever situation you have, you have to try and outperform your resources. You have to try and overachieve. You have to stretch every ounce of energy and effort from the squad that you have.
“We believe we can still achieve great things, regardless of what financial restrictions there are on us. We will try to achieve the highest possible that we can. I’m reluctant to say whatever that will be, but we’ll go for the maximum.”
Howe has worked at both ends of the scale when it comes to resources in football. From spending his own money to buy training equipment at Bournemouth to help stave off relegation to the old GM Vauxhall Conference to swerving PSR issues and avoiding player sales at Newcastle, Howe has seen it all but says his grounding with the Cherries and that near brush with non-league holds him in good stead.
Howe said: “Absolutely, that has very much conditioned my thought process. In my first season as a manager it was all about trying to stay in the league and not drop into the Conference.
“That summer we felt we could sign some players to try and stabilise ourselves in the division. But we were then under a transfer embargo.
“With the same group of players we got promoted that next season. That taught me that it isn’t necessarily outside factors, incoming transfers and money spent, that will condition your success – although the higher you go it plays a bigger role – but it’s about getting the best out of every player you have under your control. That conditioned me from that day to this day forward.”
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