Alan Pardew has told the Daily Mail that Eddie Howe can make Newcastle United a success if the Public Investment Fund and Amanda Staveley back him like Mike Ashley never could.
Ashley sold the Toon to the Saudi PIF, Staveley and Reuben brothers for £305m last month after 14-years as owner. His tenure was tarnished by a lack of investment into the playing staff, development of St James’ Park and neglect for the club’s training facilities at Benton.
Pardew managed Newcastle under Ashley for just over four-years from December 2010 to January 2015. His spell on Tyneside was the longest period any coach spent under Ashley.
Pardew also secured Newcastle’s best Premier League placement since 2003/04 when they finished fifth in 2011/12. They have only claimed a top-half finish twice in nine terms since.
United have also suffered relegation to the Championship since last relishing a European night on Tyneside. But Pardew believes Howe can restore some of Newcastle’s past glories if the PIF and Staveley back him. As the 43-year-old has never coached a club of this calibre.
“Eddie Howe, with all due respect, hasn’t managed a big club and will find that difficult, particularly because the team look short,” Pardew said. “He needs personnel, and that is difficult in January.
“Newcastle fans have been dreaming of an era when they can compete with the top clubs and under Mike, they never had that. Now, they have it if the new owners are true to their word.
“Good luck to them. With big finance and the support, Eddie has every chance of making the club a success and I really hope he pulls it off.”
PIF to back Howe with January transfers, amid Pardew’s honest Newcastle verdict
The PIF are likely to back Howe in the January transfer window to help the Newcastle boss, who Pardew feels can be a success, turn around a side Steve Bruce left in a relegation fight.
Reports have endlessly linked the Magpies with a myriad of potential targets who could arrive over the winter. The Times also noted club chiefs will pay particular attention to the Serie A market. As some sense that Premier League clubs will be reluctant to do business.
Some of the names linked include Atletico Madrid’s Kieran Trippier and even a Toon return for Paris Saint-Germain’s Georginio Wijnaldum. While Bayern Munich’s Niklas Sule is not only wanted, but Christian Falk claims is interested in moving to St James’.
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