The Managed Departure: How Newcastle's Contingency Plan Saved Face Newcastle United's summer of change was a tumultuous one, but the club's preparation for Eddie Howe's eventual departure has been a masterclass in crisis management.
Sporting director Ross Wilson revealed that the Magpies had been planning for months – possibly even up to nine months – for the day when their head coach would decide to step down.
This strategic thinking is a testament to Newcastle's forward thinking approach and highlights the difficulties inherent in football.