The Toon manager was the front-runner to replace Neil Lennon at Parkhead in May 2021. Rangers, led by Steven Gerrard, had just defeated Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, going undefeated all season.
After taking a year off from football, Howe was ready to spearhead the revolution. After an emotional departure from Bournemouth, the 47-year-old took a sabbatical, and his sporting education was further enhanced by visits to other teams.
The Scottish powerhouses approached Howe, who was looking for job, with an alluring proposition to retake the championship from their competitors from other cities. The Newcastle manager discussed the postponed move in an interview with Simon Jordan on the Up Front podcast, claiming he was unable to convince his staff, who are now training with him at St. James’ Park, to go north of the border.
Howe stated, “I had a few job offers during the time I was out, but I said I’m not considering anything for a year.” After that year ended, Celtic emerged. The position immediately drew my attention.
“Wow, what a football club, what an opportunity,” I thought. It was amazing to meet such kind folks. For me, there was no drawback. However, I needed to gather my staff. In my opinion, it would have been significant for my first job back if I had been able to enter a football club on my own and work with the personnel.
“I had to enter with all of my strength. My team would have been my strongest. That’s Dan Hodges, Simon Weatherstone, Stephen Purches, and Jason Tindall. I consider these individuals to be significant.
“I was eager to leave; I had already made up my mind. I couldn’t bring them together, but Jason had left Bournemouth. Not all of them would concur. It’s a significant dynamic, and I didn’t think I should have taken advantage of it. It would have also been incorrect for Celtic at that time. I therefore turned down the offer.
Howe also acknowledged that without the same support system, he would not have accepted the Newcastle position. “No, I don’t think I could have done,” he continued. I don’t think we would have achieved the same outcomes if I had taken that position alone. That would have been a very different circumstance.
