Newcastle were 'preparing for months' for Howe departure

Newcastle chief Ross Wilson has disclosed that the club had been preparing for a possible managerial change for several months prior to Eddie Howe's departure this summer. Howe's departure marked the end of his five-year tenure at St James' Park and was part of a series of significant changes at Newcastle, including the departures of Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno Guimarães.

Although Howe's exit may have come as a surprise to many, Wilson revealed that Newcastle had already been planning for the possibility of needing a replacement, allowing them to swiftly appoint Matthias Jaissle. Wilson explained that he had joined the club 10 or 11 months ago and had been planning for a managerial change for the majority of that time.

Despite the significant changes, Wilson stated that the summer "never felt chaotic" internally at Newcastle. Jaissle was identified as the club's top target, with Wilson noting that the team's own models helped them identify coaches suitable for their desired aggressive and high-intensity style of play. Wilson emphasized that Matthias Jaissle was a "really, really interesting" prospect for the club if he became available at the right time.