Graeme Jones says he鈥檚 handing over a 鈥榟ealthy鈥� Newcastle team to new boss Eddie Howe

Despite the club鈥檚 winless start in the Premier League this season, Graeme Jones said the players remain united after the 1-1 draw with Brighton. (AFP)
Short Url
  • Despite the club鈥檚 winless start in the Premier League this season, the interim coach said the players remain united after the 1-1 draw with Brighton聽

BRIGHTON: Newcastle United interim manager Graeme Jones believes he鈥檚 handing over a healthy football club to prospective new boss Eddie Howe.

Former Bournemouth boss Howe was in the Amex Stadium stands, flanked by United director Amanda Staveley, to watch the Magpies 1-1 draw against Brighton. An announcement on his Newcastle appointment is expected in the coming days.

The south coast draw set an unwanted record for United as they recorded their 11th Premier League game without a win 鈥� the worst start to a season in their 129-year history.

And despite that, Jones thinks Howe, when confirmed, will be getting his hands on a positive group of players, despite the Magpies鈥� early-season struggles.

Jones said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to fracture in situations like this, but we as a group have not allowed it. The boys are together, and whoever comes in will inherit a healthy football club. 

鈥淲e are all pulling in the same direction. We wanted to win, but you don鈥檛 achieve what we鈥檝e achieved on the day without that. 

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 achieve the response, and the manner of the response, if you鈥檙e not together. That鈥檚 so pleasing.鈥�

Jones, who is set to step back into a first-team coach role when Howe is given the reins, said the ex-Bournemouth boss had no input on the side鈥檚 setup or preparation at Brighton.

鈥淗e didn鈥檛 have any input,鈥� Jones said. 

鈥淚鈥檝e had no contact with him. Eddie鈥檚 a professional man. He will have realized that I was doing the game and I鈥檇 planned it, and he left me alone to focus on it.

鈥淚t was good to see him at the game, but we鈥檒l have to wait and see what the outcome of that is still. I鈥檝e just got on with things.鈥�

United currently sit 19th in the Premier League table and are the only top-flight team without a win after Norwich City鈥檚 victory at Brentford.

Jones continued: 鈥淚鈥檓 pleased with the reaction. The plan was to win, we wanted to come here and win, but when you have a marginal decision against you, which we had with the VAR, then you feel sorry for yourself. 

鈥淚 spoke to the boys at half-time and said nobody鈥檚 going to help you 鈥� there鈥檚 only us who can help ourselves. The response in the second half is the most pleasing aspect of today鈥檚 performance.鈥�