Newcastle insist on sack clause in Eddie Howe contract as Magpies board torn over boss

Newcastle are insisting on a clause that could see Eddie Howe sacked just six months into his spell as head coach if he is appointed, according to reports. The former Bournemouth coach is the favourite to succeed Steve Bruce after Unai Emery pulled out of contention.

Howe and Emery were understood to be on a narrowed down two-man shortlist for the job earlier this week.  

Ex-Arsenal boss Emery led the race but released a statement on Wednesday confirming that he will remain at Villarreal. 

The 50-year-old is believed to have harboured concerns over the direction of the club, with no CEO or director of football closing in on an appointment. 

Newcastle’s attention will likely be turned to Howe. The 43-year-old incredibly led Bournemouth from the fourth tier to the Premier League in just seven seasons and then maintained their top-flight status for five years. 

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That success will likely enamour Newcastle director Amanda Staveley and the club’s oil-rich owners, who have put in place a long-term project.  

However, the arrangement could be over in just six months due to a clause Newcastle want to put in the contract.  

According to the Mirror, a ‘sack clause’ will mean that whoever is appointed as head coach will be dismissed if they suffer relegation. The club’s board are also split over Howe’s suitability for the job. 

The Tyneside outfit are 19^th in the Premier League and demotion to the Championship is a serious threat, despite the club’s eye-watering £305million takeover and promises to spend big to eventually build a world-class squad.

“No matter how much noise there was yesterday in another country there was transparency and loyalty within Villarreal and the Roig family (owners) and their staff,” Emery wrote in a statement published across his social media accounts.  

“That is maximum for me and that is most important for me. Villarreal is my home and I am 100 per cent committed to stay here. 

“I am honestly grateful to the interest from a great club, but I am even more grateful to be here and that is why I communicated to Fernando Roig my decision to want to continue being part of this project because of the commitment and respect that I perceive from the club and from my players, which is mutual and reciprocal. 

“I want to thank the fans for the support they have always shown me. 

“On Sunday we have a very important game and I hope that together we can achieve victory. See you at the Estadio de la Ceramica.”