Eddie Howe has reportedly left his position as Newcastle United manager with immediate effect, only weeks before the start of the new Premier League season. The development has disrupted the club's pre-season preparations.
Pre-season defeat precedes departure
Howe's exit follows a pre-season friendly defeat to Bristol City. After the match, he commented on the performance: "I thought it was a really good test for us. The scoreline is a difficult one for us to take, I don't think we deserved that at all today."
He added: "Anyone who watched the game would have seen that we were very competitive. The goals we conceded were strange ones. They had six shots and scored four goals."
Replacement search underway
Talks are now reportedly in progress to identify Howe's successor as Newcastle look to steady the ship ahead of the new campaign.
