'Unusual One': Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe addresses Jason Tindall QPR links

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has responded to assistant Jason Tindall emerging as an early candidate to take over from Marti Cifuentes at QPR this summer.

The Catalan head coach was placed on ‘gardening leave’ last week ahead of the trip to Sunderland after it had been reported that his representatives had held discussions with West Brom over the vacant managerial role at The Hawthorns.

Assistant coaches Kevin Betsy and Xavi Calm took temporary charge of the team for the impressive 1-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. Cifuentes has not officially been sacked or left the club but all signs point towards a change in stewardship at Loftus Road.

Former Lyon boss Pierre Sage and Tottenham Hotspur coach Ryan Mason have emerged as frontrunners, but Tindall’s name is one that crept up towards the end of last week and continues to be touted. Howe was asked about his assistant's future ahead of taking on Brighton this weekend.

Eddie Howe ‘hopes’ not to lose Jason Tindall to QPR

When questioned as to whether he has heard of the links, Howe said: "No, I know nothing of that, that's the first I've heard of it. I certainly hope not. JT's been brilliant for me, personally. And very highly valued, yeah, so I don't want him to go anywhere. Some unusual one, transfer news with a member of staff."

Tindall continues to work as an assistant to Howe at St James’ Park but impressed when taking temporary charge of the Premier League club as his boss underwent treatment for pneumonia recently. The Magpies beat Manchester United 4-1 and Crystal Palace 5-0 with Tindall in charge, as well as losing 4-1 to Aston Villa. Tindall has previously held a managerial role, when at AFC Bournemouth, and was asked if he would want to be number one again after those results.

He said: "That's never been my intention, it's not what I wanted at that time it was just with the circumstances the manager needed a break and work out what his next chapter should be so the opportunity came my way and it was one I couldn't turn down. It's certainly not something I've got in mind, I'm happy in my role and it's something I want to continue to do."

Tindall ‘extremely unlikely’ to take over at QPR

That would point towards Tindall being unlikely to have his head turned by the QPR job with Newcastle United having just won the Carabao Cup and booked a place in Europe next season. Our sister site NewcastleWorld adds that any prospect of Tindall heading to Loftus Road appears ‘extremely unlikely’.

A club statement regarding the situation around Cifuentes was issued on Tuesday night. It read: “Marti Cifuentes has been placed on gardening leave. Assistant coaches Kevin Betsy and Xavi Calm will take charge of first-team affairs on an interim basis and prepare the squad for our final fixture of the 2024/25 campaign against Sunderland.”

Nourry also provided a statement and labelled the situation surrounding Cifuentes as ‘disappointing’. He said: “This is naturally a disappointing situation for everyone concerned. I fully understand and appreciate supporters’ frustrations at this time. As a club, we are working to ensure this matter is resolved as swiftly as possible so we can start preparations in earnest for the future.”

In other news, Marti Cifuentes compared to Neil Warnock, Ian Holloway and other past QPR bosses after gardening leave decision.