Newcastle United issue official response to 'unusual transfer news'

QPR placed first-team manager Marti Cifuentes on gardening leave earlier this week after it was revealed he had held talks with another Championship club. And Tindall features in the bookmakers’ running to succeed the Spaniard at 8/1.

Tindall has spent the majority of his coaching career as assistant to Howe at Bournemouth and now Newcastle, although he did have a brief 31-game stint in charge of the Cherries when Howe resigned as boss in August 2020.

Eddie Howe responds to Jason Tindall QPR links

The 47-year-old recently stepped up to manage three games in Howe’s absence last month when he was recovering from pneumonia.

Praising Tindall’s work, Howe said last week: “I made a conscious decision when I felt I didn't feel well enough to focus on the football to give Jason and all the coaches the full responsibility. Because for me, you're either all in or all out. And I couldn't contribute.

“So I said to Jason right at the start, it's over to you and didn't he do well? I thought he was absolutely brilliant with Grames [Jones] and Simon [Weatherstone] and Stephen [Perches] and all the coaches and the players. I thought they're absolutely magnificent.”

When asked about the Tindall and QPR links on Friday, Howe said: "No, I know nothing of that, that's the first I've heard of it. I certainly hope not. JT's been brilliant for me, personally. And very highly valued, yeah, so I don't want him to go anywhere. So a unusual one, transfer news with a member of staff."

Jason Tindall has already addressed managerial ambitions

Last month, Tindall was asked if he still had ambitions to become a manager, to which he played down the prospect.

He said: “That's never been my intention, it's not what I wanted at that time it was just with the circumstances the manager needed a break and work out what his next chapter should be so the opportunity came my way and it was one I couldn't turn down.

“It's certainly not something I've got in mind, I'm happy in my role and it's something I want to continue to do."

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