Latest news with #Tyneside
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tyneside stories you may have missed this week
From a sausage roll honour, to a stolen pit pony statue and a car recovered from the tide - here are some stories from Tyneside you may have missed this week. A sculpture of a Greggs sausage roll has been unveiled at Madame Tussauds. The London attraction has said the famous Geordie snack is the first food item to go on display in its own right. It elevates the snack to the level of a British cultural icon, sitting along celebrities such as Shakespeare and David Attenborough. Read more on this story here. A car submerged by the tide near the Holy Island causeway was recovered 50m (164ft) away from the road. Chris Mason, a worker who helped recover the car, said he had never seen one swept that far away before. "It just shows you how much the tide can pick a car up and shift it." The owners were located by Northumbria Police safe on the island shortly after the report was received, Seahouses Lifeboat Station said. Read more on this story here Families who had to leave their homes to make way for a project to widen part of the A1 in Northumberland, said they had "been through hell" as they saw their properties "left to rot" unnecessarily. The National Highways agency spent more than £4m on the purchase of houses and land in the way of the scheme, but the government scrapped the plans in October 2024. Melanie Wensby-Scott sat in her car and cried on the day she and her husband left Northgate House, which sits right next to the road not far from Morpeth. "When they first came round I said I didn't want to move and they basically said I had no option," said Mrs Wensby-Scott. "It was just awful to know you were going to lose your home." Read more on this story here A mystery sculptor has erected a bronze statue of a pit pony in place of a stolen one that served as a memorial to miners in Ryhope, Sunderland. The original was was cut down to its hooves and stolen in August 2024, while an identical statue at the other end of the village was sliced down by thieves in 2021, with nobody ever traced for either theft. The new bronze-coloured, fibreglass effigy appeared on one of the concrete plinths welcoming visitors to the village on Friday morning. Councillors previously estimated it could cost £34,000 to replace each original, and that the council faced "financial pressures". Read more about this story here Newcastle United's Dan Burn, who scored a gold that helped his team seal the historic Carabao Cup win in March, has been presented with the Freedom of Northumberland. The Blyth-born defender was hailed a "Northumberland legend" as he collected his home county's highest honour. Burn said he was "quite emotional" after receiving an ornate scroll, medal and tie decorated with the Northumberland flag, in a special ceremony at County Hall. "It's a real honour, especially for just playing football," he said. Read more about this story here Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
'A fantastic ambassador' - Howe granted freedom of Newcastle
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe is joining the likes of Alan Shearer, Sir Bobby Robson and Jackie Milburn in being granted freedom of the city status after leading the Magpies to their first domestic trophy for 70 steered his team to a historic Carabao Cup triumph in March and this honour means Howe will have his name inscribed in the wall of the Banqueting Hall at the Civic Centre, alongside the names of other recipients."Eddie Howe will forever be a hero to Newcastle United supporters for his achievements during his time at the club so far," council leader Karen Kilgour said."I'm thrilled members [of the council] recognised the significance of his contribution to our city by approving to bestow upon him the Honorary Freedom of Newcastle."For a city that lives and breathes sport with a football club around which so many lives revolve, the wait to see black and white shirts lift a trophy at the home of football had long felt it would go on forever."More than being the man who brought silverware back to Tyneside, Eddie is a fantastic ambassador for our city."He is passionate yet calm, inspiring and polite, and handles himself with grace in the face of both success and defeat."Read more about Howe receiving the highest civic honour the city can grant
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Paul Mitchell's Newcastle downfall: Four-word mantra that doomed him straight away, fears he would force out Eddie Howe and the high-profile boss players thought he'd bring in, reveals CRAIG HOPE
It took only a few days, but after arriving on Tyneside and approaching diplomacy the same way a bull does china, the writing was on the wall for Paul Mitchell. He was shocked and disappointed when Mail Sport revealed that his opening addresses to players and staff were not well received.
New York Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Inside Paul Mitchell's Newcastle exit: Internal shock, Reuben's reluctance and the Howe dynamic
Paul Mitchell has suggested he can be a 'nightmare' to work with. His closest allies rave about his strengths, but even they attest to his unique and direct style. Mitchell is conscious of that and it is why the identity of his direct boss is important to him. The apparent breakdown in his relationship with Daniel Levy reportedly led Mitchell to resign at Tottenham Hotspur in 2016. Chief executive Darren Eales was also a critical factor in the now-43-year-old cutting short his planned break from football to join Newcastle United last July. Advertisement The pair briefly worked together at Spurs and Eales convinced Mitchell they could shape the St James' Park project. From the start, Mitchell indicated to owners that his Tyneside tenure was likely to be inextricably linked with Eales'. Within three months, Eales announced he had blood cancer and would be stepping down. That left Mitchell with a decision of his own, especially given Eddie Howe's established power base, and the sporting director has been considering his future for a while. A final decision was only communicated upwards on Tuesday morning — Jamie Reuben, the co-owner, and officials from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) did try to convince Mitchell to stay, so the sporting director promised a firm judgement at a long-planned post-season meeting — and then hastily relayed to supporters. Just as Mitchell's arrival on July 4 had not been trailed, nor was his departure. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the club chairman, watched Newcastle's final-day loss to Everton on Sunday before holding meetings with Mitchell and Howe, during which the upcoming transfer window was discussed. The head coach stressed the need for quick action and dynamism in the market. Within two days, the sporting director announced his departure after less than a year. Despite a fractious start to Howe and Mitchell's relationship last summer, there was no suggestion, publicly or privately, of bitterness or an angry parting of ways. Mitchell and Howe's working partnership had built over time and become more than functional — with conversations as recently as Monday, when Callum Wilson's future was discussed (an exit appears increasingly likely) — yet Newcastle's on-field success across 2024-25, which brought a first domestic trophy in 70 years and Champions League qualification, only strengthened the head coach's authority. Advertisement The apparent shift in direction last summer towards Howe being less directly involved in transfers, while retaining the final say, was implemented on Eales' watch and, with the CEO going, perhaps the recruitment model will be tweaked once more. 'Boundaries' was a word Howe repeatedly used last July to cite his unease at Mitchell's arrival, and that may also explain the sporting director's uncertainty about working for an unknown boss with fresh ideas. Mitchell is not believed to have another job lined up. The expectation is he will take time out to spend with his family, as was his intention before Eales' approach. Most club staff were shocked by the news, only learning about it via the club's statement at 1pm on Tuesday. Only a select few high-ranking figures inside Newcastle had, for a matter of weeks, known Mitchell's exit was likely, but the swiftness of his departure surprised some who had expected he would see out the summer window, rather than leave by the June 30 accountancy deadline. Over the past few days, Mitchell had been in contact with directors of other clubs, agents and even potential recruits to Newcastle's staff — for roles ranging from fresh senior positions to lower-level jobs — and he was operating as normal, with no indication he was going. Given the previous tension between them, Mitchell's impending departure has been portrayed by some as essentially representing a win for Howe. Should Howe's previous influence over recruitment be reasserted, as seems likely, then it could be seen as a victory, albeit a Pyrrhic one — another summer of instability is not to the head coach's benefit following three windows without a signing to improve the first XI. Howe declared on Sunday that 'speed is key' for Newcastle and, while targets have now been finalised and Mitchell will remain in situ until June 30, Newcastle will not have a sporting director or a CEO when pre-season training commences on July 7 (though Eales' departure date has yet to be confirmed). Advertisement No successor to Mitchell has been identified — despite premature links to figures inside and outside the club, including Dougie Freedman, who turned Newcastle down last spring — and the media release did not even state that the search for a direct replacement had begun. There have been claims that another executive restructuring may be considered, whereby the sporting director position is potentially changed or replaced, though such significant calls would ideally be left to a chief executive. Senior sources insist Newcastle are getting closer to appointing a new CEO, but the process has been ongoing for eight months. James Bunce, the performance director brought in by Mitchell, is not following him out, either, and is due to return for pre-season, though the make-up of the next executive team may influence the future of several employees. Regardless, several insiders have reiterated Mitchell's declaration that 'the club is in a fantastic position to continue building' during the summer window. A goalkeeper, centre-back, right-winger and potentially a striker are being sought — Ipswich centre-forward Liam Delap, Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo and Burnley shot-stopper James Trafford are among players heavily discussed — and the recruitment department feel they are ready to move swiftly, even if a signing during the early-June window appears ambitious. Mercifully, there is no need to sell by June 30 to satisfy PSR (the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules) either, so a repeat of last year's mad dash is not envisaged. Mitchell's exit does not dilute Newcastle's conviction that none of their big players are for sale, either. Keeping Alexander Isak is priority No 1. Once again, an interim transfer-committee-style operation may be in place from July 1, just as it was during the January window of 2022 and for the first part of last summer, following Dan Ashworth's move to Manchester United. However, Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi, the former co-owners, have since departed, with Mitchell and Eales to follow, leaving a partial vacuum. Even insiders accept that having extensive plans is one thing, but actually executing them successfully in a competitive market will be challenging. Who handles the minutiae of important tasks, such as leading contract negotiations with present and prospective players, must still be clarified. Advertisement But other experienced figures remain and will be further empowered, with proven processes already in place and a staffing reshuffle not deemed necessary. Andy Howe, the assistant head of recruitment, is influential behind the scenes; trusted by Eddie Howe, his uncle, and valued by the owners, he identified Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Tino Livramento, among others, and has increasingly become a point of contact with leading agents. Steve Nickson, the head of recruitment, scouted Sven Botman and Yankuba Minteh, has been in position since 2017 and will offer his expertise and global connections, which have further expanded into South America and Africa recently. Eddie Howe is also meticulous in his due diligence on players, watching hours of footage and seeking exhaustive background checks. The head coach has the ultimate say on transfers and will push ownership to enact his blueprint early. For the next month, Mitchell will continue as normal, with greater clarity to be delivered on how the transitional framework will look. There is still time for Mitchell to bring in only a second first-team signing during his watch — after the initial £10million ($13.5m) outlay on William Osula, who was always viewed as a 'project player', last August — with the pre-Club World Cup window operating from June 1 to 10, then the second window opening on June 16. He has been financially hamstrung due to PSR constraints. GO DEEPER Explained: The Club World Cup transfer window and how contracts will work Embodying Newcastle's 2024-25, Mitchell's tenure has been turbulent. Howe was given less than 24 hours' notice of his arrival and, initially, the pair clashed, leading the head coach to raise doubts about his own future at Adidas HQ in July. When Mitchell clumsily questioned whether Newcastle's post-takeover recruitment had been 'fit for purpose' during a media roundtable in September — he had intended to suggest processes needed modernising, rather than to decry previous signings, as it sounded — Howe felt compelled to publicly defend his transfer record. Advertisement Mitchell's failed (public) pursuit of Guehi throughout August also left a negative impression with some supporters, though the sporting director did only arrive mid-window. He was also operating in challenging PSR circumstances, the scale of which perhaps even surprised him. Had Guehi joined, further sales beyond those of Miguel Almiron and Lloyd Kelly for a combined £31m would have been required to balance the books. Extracting a fee rising to around £20m for Kelly from Juventus — the defender started only four league games after joining on a free from Bournemouth — remains scarcely believable and underlines Mitchell's negotiating skills. The club's inability to spend meant that Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis, two young defenders who Mitchell put background work into trying to line up, moved to Manchester City in January instead. Exciting youth-level additions have been championed by Mitchell, however, with Vakhtang Salia, Baran Yildiz and Kyle Fitzgerald brought in. Antonio Cordero will join from Malaga, despite interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona, with promotional shots already taken. Although men's first-team recruitment captures the headlines, Mitchell's influence runs through the club. He has continued to explore the potential for a multi-club model, been involved in plans for a future state-of-the-art training ground, appointed Bunce and promoted Jack Ross to a strategic role, forging relationships with partner clubs. Mitchell also championed the women's team, striking an excellent relationship with Becky Langley, the manager, and providing increased resources. He appointed Grace Williams, who is set to arrive from Crystal Palace as women's director of football. Following a difficult start, Howe and Mitchell also built a decent working relationship, with 'collaboration' becoming a buzzword for both. That improved communication would have been tested across the course of a vital window, but instead, the head coach is braced for another summer of flux in the boardroom.
BreakingNews.ie
25-05-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Newcastle secure Champions League place despite final-day defeat to Everton
Newcastle managed to cling on to their Champions League dream by the skin of their teeth despite Charly Alcaraz heading Everton to Premier League victory at St James' Park on the final day of the season. Alcaraz's 65th-minute strike secured a 1-0 win on Tyneside and that, coupled with Chelsea's win at Nottingham Forest and 10-man Aston Villa's 2-0 defeat at Manchester United, left the Magpies in fifth place on goal difference. Advertisement On a day when victory would have been enough to end the tension, the Magpies were uncharacteristically nervy and imprecise, and the final whistle was greeted by joyous applause as a packed house of 52,221 celebrated not the result on the day, but the efforts which had secured a second trip to Europe's top table in three seasons and the Carabao Cup during an arduous campaign. As an initial onslaught by the hosts abated, David Moyes' men worked their way into the game and Tino Livramento had to intercept James Garner's dangerous ninth-minute cross after Idrissa Gueye had cleverly played his team-mate in over the top. With Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye and Alcaraz thriving in midfield, Everton were making life uncomfortable for the hosts at times and as Alexander Isak struggled to get himself into the game, chances were at a premium for Newcastle. Nick Pope claimed Alcaraz's 22nd-minute free-kick with little fuss, but he was extended much further by Garner's swerving strike from distance two minutes later. Advertisement Harvey Barnes was unable to react quickly enough to make meaningful contact with Livramento's teasing cross at the far post after the wing-back had skipped past Jack Harrison down the left, but it took a fine double save from Jordan Pickford to deny first Sandro Tonali, then Isak 14 minutes before the break. Pickford tipped over a Sven Botman header as it reared up off the turf and then repelled the defender's near-post shot as the Magpies forced a series of corners, but Pope had to be equally resilient to prevent Alcaraz's 39th-minute header from sneaking under his crossbar. Joe Willock replaced Anthony Gordon before the restart and Eddie Howe shifted from a back three to a four, but his team were sloppy during the opening exchanges of the second half and Livramento survived penalty appeals after Harrison's cross appeared to strike his arm before Pope had to palm away another Alcaraz drive. But concern mounted among the locals with 25 minutes remaining when Alcaraz rose to head Vitalii Mykolenko's cross past the stranded Pope to hand the visitors a deserved lead. Advertisement Pickford parried Isak's 68th-minute piledriver and then saw Fabian Schar and substitute Kieran Trippier fire inches wide as Newcastle felt the golden ticket slipping from their grasp, although news of Amad Diallo's goal at Old Trafford had raised spirits off the pitch significantly in the meantime. A madcap conclusion to the game failed to yield a second goal – although Toffees substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Magpies skipper Bruno Guimaraes both went close in stoppage time – and both were able to celebrate for different reasons when referee Tony Harrington finally brought proceedings to a halt.
