Simon Jordan says Eddie Howe will be a ‘stepping stone’ for Newcastle United

Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan thinks Eddie Howe is not the long-term answer for Newcastle United. When the former Bournemouth boss was appointed, the Magpies were five points adrift from safety and winless in the Premier League.

From January to mid-March, Howe inspired a nine-game unbeaten run that helped drag Newcastle 10 points clear of the relegation zone. Toon supporters can breathe a sigh of relief after fearing the worst less than three months ago.

However, Jordan does not expect to see Howe in the hot seat if Newcastle are one day challenging for honours. The entrepreneur believes the new Saudi-backed regime will use the 44-year-old as a ‘stepping stone’ before appointing an elite boss further down the line.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Jordan said: “Of course, he was given a helping hand with £93million of spending in January, but Eddie Howe’s reward surely, surely can’t be that someone gets to step in his shoes without having a fair crack at dissuading people like me that he’s going to take Newcastle to the next level.

“I don’t think Eddie Howe will be the beneficiary of the ultimate unleashing of Newcastle’s potential. I think he will be the stepping stone. He will be the Mark Hughes before Roberto Mancini. He will get them to a certain position and his stock will go up.

“I don’t think he will be taken out in the summer, so I don’t take the argument about Mourinho or anybody else that Newcastle will care to run. They are going through a stage of evolution.”