Shearer predicts 'challenging times' for Newcastle amid Howe exit talk

Alan Shearer is worried about what will happen next at Newcastle United amid rumours surrounding Eddie Howe's future at St. James' Park. 

On Thursday, widespread reports emerged that Howe had made the decision to leave Newcastle after five years in charge, though the club have yet to confirm his departure.

Howe joined Newcastle in November 2021, a month after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund bought the club, and went on to oversee 231 matches across all competitions. 

The 48-year-old won 112 of his matches (D48 L71), while also helping end the club's 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy with their EFL Cup success last year. 

Only Kevin Keegan (54.6%) has a better Premier League win percentage as Newcastle manager than Howe (46.9%), who won 84 of his 179 games in the dugout. 

But a difficult 2025-26 campaign both on and off the pitch saw Newcastle finish 12th in the top-flight and lose 17 league matches, their most across a single Premier League campaign since 2017-18. 

And Shearer, Newcastle's all-time top scorer, believes that things could get even worse for his former club should the rumours around Howe's future be confirmed. 

"Thank you, Eddie Howe. You gave me the best day of my life as a Newcastle fan," Shearer said in his column on the BBC Sport website.

"Whatever the reasons are for him leaving the club, I think every supporter of my age or younger – and I am 55 – would say the same.

"Eddie will always be a legend in the eyes of the Geordie public for ending our long wait for a major trophy with that epic day he gave us at Wembley when we won the EFL Cup.

"I had craved that moment for my entire life. He will be remembered for changing that, and we have to say a massive thank you for everything else he has done since he took charge in November 2021. 

"Eddie kept us up that year, then finished fourth, seventh and fifth in the next three seasons, with some amazing nights in the Champions League along the way. 

"What happened last summer massively hindered Newcastle, with Alexander Isak leaving and the club missing out on their main transfer targets.

"Unfortunately, that trend has continued this year. I would not be surprised if it influenced Eddie's thinking about whether to stay or go, and it also makes me worry about what will happen next. Speaking purely as a fan, I think we have to get ready for a tough season and some very challenging times ahead."

Along with the reports surrounding Howe's future, it is expected that Al-Ahli boss Matthias Jaissle is the man who will become Newcastle's next managerial appointment. 

Jaissle boasts a 66.4% win percentage across his managerial career, having won 162 of his 244 matches in charge of FC Liefering, Salzburg and Al-Ahli. 

Anthony Gordon has since joined Barcelona and Sandro Tonali has signed for Tottenham, while Bruno Guimaraes appears to be heading to Arsenal. 

"The timing of Eddie's exit is the biggest surprise for me – three weeks into pre-season, and with only three weeks to go until the Premier League starts again," Shearer added. 

"I don't know exactly what has gone on behind the scenes for this to happen now, but I guess, from his point of view, he was seeing his best players being sold – first Isak, then Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali this summer – and with speculation over captain Bruno Guimaraes' future too.

"He has probably thought it was a tough enough job anyway, but it is just getting tougher. You cannot keep on selling your best players and then hope to be in contention at the top of the table – I hope I'm wrong, but it is probably inevitable that Bruno will be next to leave."