Eddie Howe has come in partway through the season and already turned himself into a Newcastle Hero at the first time of asking, however as the humble man would say himself, he is only one man in a team of professional and specialist backroom staff.
Let’s explore who else has been responsible for turning a very poor first-team squad, who hadn’t won a game, into a mid-table team who finished the season in style and managed to achieve an 11th place finish.
Jason Tindall – (Head Coach)
Jason Tindall, a former defender who spent the majority of his career at AFC Bournemouth was appointed as assistant head coach in November 2021 following the appointment of Eddie Howe. Following his playing career, Eddie Howe and Tindall were a close management team at Bournemouth. Tindall has also held Management positions at Sheffield United, Burnley and Weymouth FC where he was player-coach. He is contracted at Newcastle until June 30th 2024.
Graeme Jones – (Asst Head Coach)
Formerly assistant to Steve Bruce, Jones worked alongside Steve Agnew and Stephen Clemence as part of the ill-fated, previous management team that saw Newcastle without a win for the first 9 games of the season. Gateshead born Jones joined his boyhood team from Bournemouth where he was assistant to Cherries Boss Jason Tindall. Jones was given the role of Caretaker Head coach role for a number of games when Steve Bruce was sacked partway through the last season and has since been retained by Eddie Howe. Jones is a well respected old head of the game who has held roles such as Luton and Swansea Manager and even assistant Manager of the Belgian national squad. As a local lad and Toon supported, Jones knows the style and passion required at Newcastle.
Ben Dawson – (1st Team Development Coach)
Ben was appointed on July 1st 2021 but had been working behind the scenes at Newcastle for many years, as far back as 2009 as part of the academy staff working with Peter Beardsley.
He became assistant manager of the U21 squad in July 2014 a position he held for 5 years. Through great work and gritty determination, he became head of coaching in July 2019 where he was also appointed as U23 caretaker manager later that year. He was awarded his current position in July 2021, a role which now Newcastle have survived, if not thrived, under Eddie Howe is even more important. With the likely investment, the PIF and consortium are likely to pump into Newcastle, the development of the academy is a critical, and important appointment of someone with a proven history at the club.
Simon Smith – (Goalkeeper Coach)
Simon is another local lad (Newton Aycliffe) who has been a good long-serving servant to Newcastle United. He joined the club as a U18 goalkeeping coach from 1993 until 1999 then moved up to the full squad working under Sir Bobby Robson, Ruud Gullit and Graeme Souness. He then left for a spell at Carlisle United
With the appointment of Dan Ashworth as “Technical director of football” the clubs future is looking bright.