Alan Shearer surprised by Eddie Howe’s unexpected departure from Newcastle.

Alan Shearer expressed his bewilderment regarding the “strange timing” of Eddie Howe’s sudden departure from Newcastle, considering that this development is “not a good look” for the club. Howe decided to leave the Magpies after five years at the helm, with his exit occurring just hours after a 4-1 defeat in a pre-season match against Bristol City. So far, Newcastle has not officially commented on Howe’s decision, but his departure has been described as amicable.

This situation places Newcastle in a delicate position, especially after several high-profile player exits, such as Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, while captain Bruno Guimarães has been strongly linked with Arsenal. Shearer, a club legend, expressed his surprise, commenting, “I don’t know what happened, whether it was at the end of last season, whether it was in the summer, or if he feels they can’t continue to sell their best players.” The former player added, “I’m aware that it was Eddie’s decision to leave.”

Shearer did not hesitate to warn about the consequences of this situation: “It’s not a good look for what’s happening right now with Newcastle. Fans are seeing Isak leave, Tonali going, Gordon departing. My assumption is that it’s only a matter of time before Bruno leaves too, because he will look at what’s happening with all those players and with Eddie and think, ‘Well, from my point of view, from his perspective, I’ll be next.'” This scenario could create uncertainty and turbulence for the club in the coming times.

Eddie Howe, who took over as Newcastle manager in November 2021, has led the team to significant achievements, including a return to the Champions League and winning the club’s first domestic trophy in 70 years. The 38-year-old Saudi coach Matthias Jaissle is being touted as the leading candidate to succeed Howe at St James’ Park, having guided Al-Ahli to two titles in the Asian Champions League.

Shearer also expressed caution regarding the potential appointment of Jaissle, stating: “I think we have to be careful not to overload. Clearly, he has a great track record in Saudi Arabia. He is very young and inexperienced. The Premier League is a complicated league. It is a big challenge for anyone to take the role after what Eddie has done.” The pressure will undoubtedly be on the next manager, who will have to navigate a challenging context while trying to stabilize the team.