Alan Shearer has been left baffled by the “strange timing” of Eddie Howe’s shock departure from Newcastle, admitting that the development is “not a good look” for the club.
Howe is understood to have left the Magpies after five years in charge, with the 48-year-old’s exit coming just hours after a 4-1 pre-season defeat to Bristol City.
Newcastle are yet to officially comment on Howe’s decision to leave, but his departure has been described as amicable.
It plunges Newcastle into more turmoil this summer amid a number of high-profile exits, having already sold Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, while captain Bruno Guimaraes has been heavily linked with Arsenal.
“I’m very, very surprised with the news that Eddie Howe is leaving Newcastle,” club legend Shearer told Betfair. “I guess it's strange timing with three weeks to go until the new season kicks off.
“I don't know what's gone on, whether it was the end of last season, whether it was the summer, whether he feels they can't continue to sell his best players. I’m led to believe it was Eddie’s decision to leave.”
He added: “I don’t think it’s a great look for what's happening at the minute with Newcastle, you know, it's like what's going on? We're selling all our best players.
“The fans are seeing Isak go, the fans are seeing Tonali go, the fans are seeing Gordon go. My guess is it’s probably only a matter of time before Bruno goes, because he'll look at what's happening with all those players and look at what's happening with Eddie and think, 'Well, from a personal point of view, from his point of view, I guess I'm going to be next’.
“It's certainly not a good look, and they’ll have to navigate some tough waves coming their way now, because it's the unknown.”
Howe led Newcastle to great heights after replacing Steve Bruce as manager in November 2021, bringing about a return to the Champions League and winning the club their first domestic trophy in 70 years.
Saudi-based manager Matthias Jaissle, 38, is the front-runner to succeed Howe in the St James’ Park dugout, set to join from Al-Ahli after leading them to two Asian Champions League titles.
“I think we have to be careful if that is the case not to pile on,” Shearer said, giving his verdict on Jaissle. “Clearly, he's got a great record in Saudi. 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.”
But as far as Howe’s next steps are concerned, Shearer has no doubt the English manager, who is expected to take a break, will be swimming in offers from other clubs.
“He won't be short of offers,” he asserted after thanking Howe for the “wonderful job” he did at Newcastle. “We know that, for what he's done and what he's achieved at Newcastle.
“There's no doubt that he'll have people knocking on his door from all over the world, I guess. But first, I guess a rest first for him.
“I know he's probably just had two or three weeks over the summer, which is why it's sort of strange timing. 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.
“From Eddie's point of view, he'll get offers. He'll get offers from the Premier League, he'll get offers from abroad. So we'll have to wait and see what is next for him.”
Read MoreWho is Matthias Jaissle? Little-known Al-Ahli coach set to replace Eddie Howe at Newcastle
Eddie Howe ‘detached from reality’ in final interview as Newcastle boss
Eddie Howe ‘detached from reality’ in final interview as Newcastle boss
Who is Matthias Jaissle? Al-Ahli coach set to replace Eddie Howe at Newcastle
