Ambitious Eddie wants to go global

EDDIE Howe hopes he is still in charge of Newcastle United the day they can become as big a brand as Manchester United, writes LEE RYDER.

The Toon boss insists Newcastle are still very much laying the foundations of better years to come. But he feels this weekend’s opponents are the benchmark as far as increasing a world fanbase.

Howe, speaking at his Press conference, said: “The aim of this club with the ambition behind the scenes – which is huge now – I have always said we have to now try and deliver those huge ambitions. But there is no ceiling here.

“When you see the passion around the city... the thing that always blows me away is the young people here, the 12, 13 and 14-year-olds, their passion for Newcastle. It runs through generations and that won’t stop.

“What will happen hopefully is the global brand and the global enthusiasm for Newcastle will grow.

“The global support will definitely change through time if the club can be successful. I am putting more pressure on myself here, but that is the challenge and that is where the club wants to be. Who knows what the future will look like in 20 or 30 years.”

It was Kevin Keegan who once famously said: “The sky’s the limit” for Newcastle. Back then United did grow and came within a whisker of winning the title at Man United’s expense.

Howe reflected: “I don’t like to put ceilings on individual players and I don’t like to put ceilings on clubs either. Looking at my own history, Bournemouth were associated as a League One, League Two team, primarily League One, but we have seen them grow into a Premier League club, so why not?”