‘It’s our home’ – Newcastle boss Eddie Howe opens up on stadium plans and admits moving would be ‘a betrayal’
EDDIE HOWE admits it would “feel a bit of betrayal” to leave St. James’ Park but says a decision on Newcastle’s new stadium must not be driven by romance.
Plans have already been drawn up for a £1bn-plus rebuild of their current ground as well as for a new stadium in a location away from the city centre.
Chiefs and architects are still investigating which option would be best long-term and supporters will have to wait until next year to find out the decision.
The stadium topic has left the Toon Army torn – but staying at their current “unique” home is the head coach’s preference if he’s thinking with his heart alone.
Ahead of the trip to Everton, which Howe confirmed Alexander Isak (broken toe) will miss but goalie Nick Pope and Kieran Trippier will be fit for, he said: “I think my natural instinct was always to stay at St. James’ Park. It’s an incredible place to play football.
“It’s our home, so to think about moving somewhere else feels a little bit of a betrayal to somewhere that has served us so well.
“But we are well aware that as a football club we need to increase our revenue so people with more brain cells will make the decision for the benefit of the long term future of the football club and that’s always the most important thing so I could be swayed but just my natural instinct is to want to stay.
“It’s a massive decision because it will affect the next how many years of the football club.
“It’s a decision where you won’t be able to please everybody. There will be different opinions.
“It’s truly only the people assessing the pros and cons that can really make the decision.”
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One possible option for the club could be to build on Leazes Park, which is next to St. James’, meaning that the special location Howe loves would remain.
He continued: “The positioning where it is in the city is totally unique.
“I’d hate to see the stadium move from its current position because it dominates the eyeline of the whole city and you can see it from miles around. That’s really inspiring.
“Wherever you are in Newcastle, you get a glimpse and, personally, I always think to the next game where we are going to be there.
“It’s not necessarily the biggest, there’s just something about the look of the stadium and the feel of it. When you’re there it’s just a great place to play football.
“When you’re in it, I don’t know how it creates it, but the atmosphere, the look of the stadium, is a beautiful thing. I love being there, I love experiencing games there and I love winning there. That’s the best bit.”
However, with PSR rules stunting their progress under the club’s Saudi owners, Howe knows a potential new super stadium could help them reach the summit in the long term.
He added: “I think you have to also look at what you could gain, you can’t just look at what you’re going to lose.
“What you could gain could be equally as special and the club has to move forward. It can’t be stuck in the past or be romantic to a degree.
“There’s finances to think of and that will affect the long-term success of the club so that is why it’s not a clearcut decision.”