Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live

In an era of financial regulations, just because you have wealthy owners doesn't mean you can spend big in the transfer window. You have to abide by those rules and that is where Newcastle have come unstuck this summer.

They were perilously close to not complying with those rules and that was key in the decisions to sell Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon.

With that, if Bruno Guimaraes was to leave as well, it would probably have been a step too far for Howe who also has his reputation to defend here.

He may look at the current squad and the recruitment of young, unproven players and think they may struggle this season. There was, in my mind, rightly, a concern from his perspective that maybe it is the right time to walk away.

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle continued their pre-season preparations with a 4-1 defeat at Championship side Bristol City on Wednesday night.

"I thought it was a really good test for us," Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said after his side lost 4-1 in a pre-season friendly against Bristol City.

"The scoreline is a difficult one for us to take, I don't think we deserved that at all today.

"Anyone who watched the game would have seen that we were very competitive. The goals we conceded were strange ones. They had six shots and scored four goals.

"The majority of the game we had control of with the ball. We probably didn't do enough with it in terms of creativity, although we certainly should have scored more than the one we got."

Image source, Getty Images

In April, ESPN's Mark Ogden speculated on BBC Radio 5 Live that fans' frustration over upheaval at St James' Park might lead to Eddie Howe's departure:

"It does feel like Howe may be on his way out in the summer.

"He's the sane and calm voice in that club that they need, but the mood has changed among the fans and they have become frustrated.

"I don't think Howe is getting the benefit of the doubt for what happened last summer. The Alexander Isak situation was beyond his control and they lost their sporting director. They have had all types of upheaval.

"Howe is a manager who likes to be in control and although he's not totally in control of recruitment, they brought players in late and that weren't suited to the club. They've also had injuries.

"I think he's a really good manager but I do fear for Eddie Howe."

As you might've seen, we've got a vote at the top of this page.

Go and cast your vote on whether it's the right time for Eddie Howe to leave Newcastle, please.

Born in Germany, former Hoffenheim centre back Matthias Jaissle's coaching career started at Danish Superliga side Brondby, where he became assistant manager in 2017.

In 2021, he took his first head coach role at Austrian side Liefering. Under Jaissle, Liefering matched their all-time best finish of second in the second Austrian tier.

In his first season in his next role as manager at RB Salzburg, Jaissle achieved a domestic double and led them to the knockout phase of the Champions League for the first time in their history. He won the Austrian Bundesliga a second time before he was let go in the summer of 2023.

Jaissle has since managed at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, where he became the first manager to win back-to-back Asian Champions League titles.

Image source, Getty Images

But who will replace Eddie Howe as Newcastle boss?

Well, Al-Ahli manager Matthias Jaissle is expected to take over as the new Magpies manager.

Thoughts on this?

Here are the final figures on Eddie Howe's record as he signs off as Newcastle manager:

Interesting to see which way Newcastle turn now with less than a month until the new season.

Who do you all think should be in the hot seat when Liverpool make the trip to the North East?

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live in April, former Premier League striker Chris Sutton said he had sympathy for Eddie Howe amid Newcastle's struggling form:

"If there is to be a criticism of Newcastle then it is their recruitment in the summer because it has been particularly poor.

"They spent the best part of £250m and the likes of Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey have all been on the periphery.

"The centre-forwards, who were brought in to replace Isak, just haven't fired. They've got eight goals between them and they spent a fortune on them.

"Howe's tried to use Nick Woltemade in a midfield role which doesn't suit him either. He doesn't fit into Howe's team because he doesn't make those runs in from behind and he's not mobile."

Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

Eddie Howe has lost key players Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon already this summer while Arsenal are chasing captain Bruno Guimaraes.

Well-placed sources have indicated that there has been a level of surprise from Howe at the club’s transfer business so far, though the coach was aware of the necessity for the club to sell players this summer.

Earlier this year, Howe had decided to remain at St James’ Park regardless of the inevitably about selling players.

But over the summer, his perspective has changed and he will now be leaving.

And things don't get much easier for Newcastle...

Their first game of the new Premier League season will be a home tie against Liverpool on 23 August.

Last season, Newcastle reached the last-16 of the Champions League before losing 8-3 on aggregate to Barcelona.

Their EFL Cup defence ended in the semi-finals, but their league performance was severely underwhelming after finishing fifth in 2024-25.

Newcastle spent in the region of £240m on new players 12 months ago, but this summer have sold two key players - Sandro Tonali to Tottenham and Anthony Gordon to Barcelona.

Eddie Howe replaced Steve Bruce as manager in November 2021 and ended Newcastle's 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy by winning the 2025 Carabao Cup.

He led the Magpies to Champions League qualification in 2023 and 2025.

Calling all Newcastle fans!

How are you feeling about the departure of Eddie Howe? Would you have liked to see him carry Newcastle into the new season?

Let us know your thoughts, please.

Eddie Howe came under pressure last season as Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League after losing 17 of their 38 games.

The 48-year-old's final match in charge was a 4-1 defeat by Bristol City in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday.

Image source, Getty Images