Alan Shearer has admitted he was shocked by the timing of Eddie Howe's departure from Newcastle, saying he is led to believe it was Howe's own decision to leave the club just three weeks before the start of the Premier League season.
Speaking exclusively to Betfair, the Newcastle legend said the exit had a strange feel to it. "If something was going to happen, you would have thought it would have happened at the end of last season so it would have given Newcastle time to prepare," he said.
Shearer also pointed to a broader pattern of player sales that he believes has unsettled the club, with Alexander Isak, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon all having left. "My guess is it's probably only a matter of time before Bruno goes," he added.
Tribute to Howe
Despite his concerns, Shearer was generous in his praise for Howe's four-and-a-half-year tenure. He credited the departing manager with delivering what he called his best day as a Newcastle fan, a reference to the club's League Cup victory against Liverpool at Wembley.
"He gave me my best day as a Newcastle fan with that day at Wembley. He's given us some incredible nights in the Champions League that we'll never forget," Shearer said. "He did a wonderful job for Newcastle, so it's a huge thank you to Eddie."
Howe took over from Steve Bruce in November 2021, when Newcastle sat 19th in the league with four points from ten matches. He guided the club to 11th that season and oversaw a sustained rise in subsequent years.
Jaissle faces big test
Al Ahli manager Matthias Jaissle has been widely reported as Howe's successor. The 38-year-old guided Al Ahli to back-to-back AFC Champions League titles in 2024-25 and 2025-26 after joining the Saudi club in 2023.
Shearer acknowledged Jaissle's record but raised doubts about his readiness for the Premier League. "Clearly, he's very young and inexperienced. The Premier League is a beast of a league. It's a big ask for anyone to come in and take over after what Eddie's done," he said. "If Jaissle does come in, you're asking a 38-year-old to navigate very, very tricky waters."
Shearer said what Newcastle need most right now is stability, as well as experienced signings to complement any younger additions. "There's no doubt this season's going to be a tough one for Newcastle," he said. "You can't keep selling your best players in the hope that you're going to get to where you want to get to."
