Eddie Howe hits back at Paul Mitchell after sporting director criticised Newcastle transfers
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has said he's "proud" of the club's transfer work in response to comments made recently by the club's new sporting director Paul Mitchell
Eddie Howe has hit back at claims made by new Sporting Director Paul Mitchell - and insisted he is “proud” of all his transfer dealings at Newcastle.
The head coach has yet to speak to Mitchell, appointed to recruitments in July, since his controversial interview two weeks ago.
Mitchell said the club’s scouting set up was “not fit for purpose”, lacked clear strategy for the last five years, and that some of the deals struck for players by the Saudi ownership had been “overpriced.”
But Howe says he “takes ownership” of all the deals he helped strike when he was at the centre of rebuilding the club which rose from the relegation zone to the Champions League.
READ MORE: Sky Sports fans can save £216 on their bill, here's three other reasons you'll want to pick itREAD MORE: Man City 'expecting victory' in case against Premier League rules as verdict due soonThe United boss says he has to have “collaboration” on transfers in the future, and asked if he was still “happy” after his summer warning, he replied: “I am happy on the training pitch, coaching the players.”
Howe drove the signings of Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and Sven Botman who have been huge hits. Those players have since doubled in value. “I’d certainly like to find a few more of them if I could,” said Howe.
“I’m very, very proud of every single player that we signed in that period. It is very easy to look back at any transfer window and make a judgement on the players you have signed three years down the line.
“When you look back, that work was good. Our objective was to stay in the league, so I’m not going to critique every signing, but I’m very, very proud of the body of work that we did and the players that we have now from the legacy of those transfer windows. We love them to bits.
“I think everyone can hold their heads up very high.”
Asked if there was civil war behind the scenes, Howe said: “I don’t involve myself in politics. For me this job is very much about the players.”
Howe’s nephew, Andy, is assistant head of First Team Recruitment and asked why Mitchell said scouting was not fit for purpose, he said: “I think that is for Paul to answer. I don’t think I can answer for him.
“The scouting structure was there, and whatever you think about the structures I thought the results were very good. I just don’t think it is the time or the place to do it.”
Directly asked about tensions behind the scenes, Howe said: “ The civil war stuff, absolutely not, in my experience. But I am cocooned in my work and absolutely focused on the players.
“I don’t think it’s right for me to make individual comments in reply to Paul’s press conference. I don’t think that will help our current situation. It’s best for me to focus on the future.
“ No, I’ve had no contact from Paul (since the interview). But I don’t think that’s unusual. We’ve got different jobs to do. I’m focusing on the football.”
Howe says no discussions have yet been held to plan for the January window.
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Mitchell said there could be “healthy conflict” at a club over transfers, and Howe said: “You have to give your opinion as that's what you are paid to do. If you believe in fighting for something that is for the long term benefit of the club I will always do that. But it has to be collaboration, that's the key thing, giving your views together for the best thing for the football club. It cannot be about one person's view, it can't be one person dictating what happens.”
Howe added: “I’m very, very proud of those signings. I don’t want to make it about old structure and new structure but those signings I played a huge part in and I took ownership of all those signings, I said that even if they’re good or bad I will take ownership.
“I think they have been brilliant signings. You’ve asked me a question and I’ll always try and answer it if I can openly and honestly.
“The key thing now is the future and making sure we get future windows right because ultimately that is the most important thing at any club, for you to be successful you have to recruit well.”
“It's about unity and coming together now and making sure we come together. This time for me is about making sure we get results.”
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