AliousTake a trip back to last summer when Paul Mitchell joined Newcastle United as sporting director, and almost instantly, the press was buzzing with tales of tension between him and head coach Eddie Howe.
For weeks, headlines speculated about a supposed power struggle, with little concrete proof to back it up. The rumored issue? Howe allegedly sought more sway over transfers than Mitchell was prepared to grant.
While the drama unfolded largely as media conjecture, a former Bournemouth recruitment analyst, Thomas Spring, has recently shed light that suggests there might have been a sliver of truth buried in the noise.
Appearing on The Overlap Breakdown podcast, Spring—now head of scouting at Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League—reflected on his time working with Howe at Bournemouth.
He painted a picture of a manager deeply immersed in the recruitment process. “The setup we had was incredibly thorough, with a talented group involved in player decisions,” Spring explained.
“From Richard Hughes to Des Taylor, Andy Howe, and Eddie himself—Eddie probably put in more effort than a scout would. His dedication to analyzing players was extraordinary.
He’d even attend matches in person to evaluate targets. Most managers operate that way because they’re the ones committing to those players daily on the training ground. They invest their time and expertise, so they watch games live, scrutinize prospects, and make sure they’re the right fit.”
The summer rumors of a Howe-Mitchell rift were likely exaggerated, though it’s plausible some initial friction arose as the two adjusted to each other’s methods. It’s only logical that a manager, tasked with coaching the squad every day, would want a say in who joins the ranks—making the notion that Mitchell aimed to sideline Howe entirely far-fetched.
Spring’s account of Howe’s meticulous nature suggests that his input could only enhance Mitchell’s efforts. While Howe’s packed schedule at Newcastle might limit his ability to scout in person these days, it’s hard to imagine the duo aren’t finding common ground, blending Howe’s eye for talent with Mitchell’s strategic oversight.
Alious
