Howe leaves Newcastle

Eddie Howe has left his role as Newcastle United head coach.  

The decision has been taken following discussions with the club's hierarchy over the last 48 hours, although Howe had started the ball rolling on a potential departure a number of weeks ago.

In this time, Howe continued to focus on preparing the Newcastle team for their season opener against Liverpool on August 23.

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Newcastle have already had a challenging summer after the sales of Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon - and that continues with uncertainty over their captain Bruno Guimaraes, who is wanted by Arsenal.

Those sales have played a factor in Howe's decision amid concerns about what the squad will look like at the start of the new campaign. Newcastle also sold striker Alexander Isak for a British record £125m to Liverpool last summer.

Howe has spent a number of months reflecting on his time at Newcastle and believed he could take the club forward this season, providing Newcastle recruited well this summer.

Newcastle have signed 20-year-old winger Bazoumana Toure from Hoffenheim for £42m, 18-year-old midfielder Sean Steur from Ajax for £23m and 20-year-old goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen from Reims for £18.5m.

They have recently, however, appeared to miss out on Johan Manzambi, who decided to move to Aston Villa - which was a big blow for Howe and the club.

Howe has been one of Newcastle's greatest-ever managers, winning the League Cup to end the club's 70-year wait for silverware as well as taking the club into the Champions League on two occasions after sealing top-five finishes in the Premier League.

Last season, they progressed further in the Champions League than they had ever done before.

Newcastle have already started the process to find Howe's successor with a number of names on the list of sporting director Ross Wilson and CEO David Hopkinson.

His final game in charge was a brutal 4-1 pre-season loss to Championship side Bristol City on Wednesday night.

More to follow.