Eddie Howe brutally ‘told’ he could be ‘sacked’ by Newcastle whether the club wins the Carabao Cup or not

Eddie Howe’s tenure at Newcastle United has been marked by both progress and challenges, and as the club approaches the 2025 Carabao Cup final, Howe’s future remains uncertain—regardless of the outcome of the match. This harsh reality was recently underscored by Simon Jordan, former chairman of Crystal Palace, who delivered a blunt assessment of Howe’s position. According to Jordan, while Howe’s leadership has been instrumental in transforming Newcastle into a competitive Premier League side, his long-term prospects at the club might be precarious. This uncertainty persists even if he leads the Magpies to their first major domestic trophy in 70 years

Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool holds significant weight for the club. It represents a chance to end a lengthy trophy drought, with the last time Newcastle secured a major domestic title being in 1951. The importance of the fixture cannot be overstated, not only because it offers silverware but also because it serves as a reflection of the club’s recent transformation under Howe.

On the other hand, Liverpool, under Jurgen Klopp’s guidance, have become one of the top teams in English football, regularly challenging for major honors. Both teams head into the final with injury concerns, with Newcastle missing key players such as Lewis Hall and Sven Botman due to injuries, and winger Anthony Gordon suspended. Meanwhile, Liverpool are also grappling with their own injury crisis, as star full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold faces a potential absence due to an ankle injury sustained in a recent match against Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite the significance of the final, former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan made it clear that Howe’s position at the club might not be secure even if Newcastle emerges victorious in the Carabao Cup. Jordan has been outspoken in his views about Howe’s role at Newcastle, particularly in relation to the club’s ambitious Saudi ownership. He emphasized that while Howe has performed well, his success may ultimately not align with the lofty expectations of Newcastle’s new owners, who are keen on building a team capable of winning the Premier League and the Champions League in the near future.

Jordan explained that Howe might be regarded as “the gatekeeper,” a term he used to describe a manager who plays a crucial role in laying the foundations of a successful team but might not be the one to oversee its ascent to the highest echelons of European football. This assessment, according to Jordan, is rooted in the financial constraints imposed on Newcastle and the limitations of Howe’s managerial capabilities to overcome those obstacles in the long run.

“I’ve always felt that Eddie is the gatekeeper. You had such luminaries like Alan Pardew who took exception to that. He didn’t understand what I meant,” Jordan remarked during a talkSPORT interview. “Ultimately, it’s very unlikely that the lofty ambitions of the Saudis, who didn’t buy Newcastle so they can win the League Cup, they want to win the Premier League and Champions League.”

Jordan’s comments cast doubt on whether Howe, despite the progress made at Newcastle, will be the man to lead the club to its next level of success. He acknowledged Howe’s ability to build a competitive team, but questioned whether the manager’s tactics and style would be sufficient to take the club into the upper echelons of European football. “They will take the League Cup in the meantime because it will mean so much to the fans,” Jordan said, referring to the significance of the trophy for Newcastle’s supporters. “But I don’t see Newcastle, not because of Howe but because of the restrictions put upon their ability to spend… That might well mean that Eddie becomes a casualty in 18 months, knocking on the door of the FA’s building to take over from Thomas Tuchel.”

This statement implies that even a potential Carabao Cup victory would not guarantee Howe’s long-term future at Newcastle. The club’s ownership is determined to build a team capable of challenging for the Premier League title and competing at the highest level in Europe, which may eventually lead to the dismissal of Howe in favor of a more high-profile manager who can meet those expectations.

Despite the harsh words from Simon Jordan, Eddie Howe has made significant strides with Newcastle United. Under his guidance, the team has become far more competitive in the Premier League, challenging the traditional top-six clubs for European qualification. Howe’s ability to recruit talented players and foster a cohesive and dynamic team has garnered praise from many quarters, including fans and pundits alike.

However, the reality of managing a club with such high ambitions is that expectations can change rapidly. The financial backing of the club’s Saudi owners, along with their desire to see Newcastle become a global powerhouse, means that Howe’s achievements, while commendable, may not be enough to secure his future if the club does not take the next step in its evolution.

This situation highlights a dilemma faced by many managers in the modern game, particularly those at clubs undergoing major transformations. A manager can build a competitive team, earn the admiration of supporters, and achieve short-term success, but the long-term vision of the club’s owners may ultimately dictate whether or not they retain the manager’s services.

The Carabao Cup final against Liverpool offers Eddie Howe a significant opportunity to secure silverware and strengthen his position at Newcastle. A victory would end the club’s 70-year wait for a major trophy, and it would be a massive achievement for Howe, who has already overseen considerable improvement in the team’s performance. However, even if Howe does lift the trophy at Wembley, the question of whether he is the right manager to lead Newcastle to greater heights remains.

Newcastle’s Saudi ownership has made it clear that their aspirations extend far beyond winning domestic cups. Their long-term vision includes challenging for the Premier League title and making a deep run in the Champions League. For this reason, Howe may find himself under increasing pressure, regardless of the outcome at Wembley.

The modern football landscape is one where managers are often judged not just on their immediate successes but also on their ability to fulfill the long-term goals set by club owners. This is particularly true at clubs like Newcastle, which have experienced a dramatic shift in ownership and ambition. The financial backing from the Saudi consortium has catapulted Newcastle into a new era, one that is marked by high expectations and the desire to compete with the elite.

Eddie Howe, despite his success in stabilizing the club and improving its standing in the Premier League, faces the challenge of meeting those lofty ambitions. Even a Carabao Cup victory may not be enough to guarantee his future, as the club’s owners will likely continue to evaluate him based on his ability to lead Newcastle to the next level—namely, to challenge for the Premier League title and establish themselves as a force in Europe.

As Eddie Howe prepares his team for the Carabao Cup final, he is at a critical juncture in his managerial career. A victory at Wembley would undoubtedly be a massive achievement, one that would be celebrated by Newcastle fans and further solidify Howe’s reputation as a capable manager. However, the shadow of the club’s long-term ambitions looms large, and the pressure on Howe to meet those expectations is intensifying.

Simon Jordan’s blunt assessment serves as a reminder that, in modern football, success is often defined not by short-term triumphs but by the ability to deliver sustained success at the highest level. For Howe, the challenge will be to prove that he can guide Newcastle United to those heights, securing his place in the club’s future—even if that future includes more than just domestic cup victories.

Whether Howe’s tenure at Newcastle is defined by the Carabao Cup or by his ability to lead the club to sustained success in the Premier League and beyond remains to be seen. What is clear is that the next few months will be crucial in determining his long-term future at the club, and the final against Liverpool could very well be a defining moment in his career.