Newcastle's sporting director Ross Wilson has confirmed the club was preparing for Eddie Howe's departure as manager for up to nine months. Wilson, who joined Newcastle in October, stated that Howe's exit in July was not "chaotic" due to this long-term succession planning.
Howe stepped down after five years on Tyneside, following a 12th-place finish in the Premier League. He was subsequently replaced by former Red Bull Salzburg and Al-Ahli manager Matthias Jaissle.
Wilson explained that while the timing of Howe's departure was not planned, the club's preparations allowed them to move quickly. He added that Howe's talent meant he was likely to move on at some point, necessitating the club's readiness.
Despite the planned managerial change, Wilson conceded that the departure of Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal for £75m was a significant disappointment the club had hoped to avoid. However, he maintained that other player movements during the transfer window were largely anticipated.