‘No, I don’t’ - Simon Jordan launches fresh attack on Eddie Howe at Newcastle United
Newcastle United have gone from relegation candidates to Champions League regulars under Eddie Howe.
Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has doubled down on his belief that Eddie Howe will not win the Premier League at Newcastle United.
Jordan famously suggested that the Toon boss “bottled” a move to Celtic before his St James’ Park appointment in November 2021. He also predicted that Howe would not win silverware on Tyneside - a feat achieved earlier this year with the Carabao Cup triumph.
The two met for a podcast last December and Jordan’s impression of Howe improved. This was before the 47-year-old led Newcastle to domestic silverware and Champions League qualification.
Simon Jordan doubles down
However, ex-Palace chief Jordan still questions whether Howe will take the Magpies all the way to the title - the club’s first since 1927. He told talkSPORT: “My belief is that Eddie Howe will do a sterling job at Newcastle. And the more I've watched him and listened to him and paid attention to what he's doing, the more that sentiment has increased. I don't see Eddie being in situ on the day that Newcastle win the Premier League, if they ever do.
“He's going to have to be there a long while (if they do win the league). I'd be delighted to be wrong. I'd be delighted for the cabal to be broken up. I'd be delighted for Newcastle to ride roughshod across all the governance and come straight in - with a £350 million turnover - next year and do a number on the (Manchester) Citys, Liverpools and Arsenals of the world that have got almost double their turnover.”
‘Great for English football’ - Simon Jordan
Despite having doubts, Jordan would prefer Newcastle to shock the system and take on the Premier League elite. He added: “It would be great for English football. I think it'd certainly be great for that hotbed of football up in that part of the world.
“We'd never have the last of it, would we? But the fact of the matter is, I think it's a very tall order. What he's doing is he's building a very, very, very competitive side.”
Simon Jordan sets Champions League challenge
Jordan has now challenged Howe to show he can build a squad that can compete on all fronts next season. Newcastle failed to contend with added European demands following Champions League qualification two years ago.
“He's got to build a squad to match the Champions League expectations,” Jordan said. “We now know that this format that they've got in the Champions League suited Aston Villa really well. He's building a bigger squad. Now we want to see if Newcastle can operate on four fronts. Can he operate in the Premier League with two domestic cups in the Champions League?”