Eddie Howe says he will not seek any assurances after suggestions that the club's takeover deal needed to be "re-examined" in the last few days.
As reported by Chronicle Live, we understand that the Magpies are not expecting any backlash after fresh questions on whether the Saudi state have control over the Magpies. And Howe has cooled down any suggestion there have been doubts behind the scenes.
When asked if he'd been to his board and asked if there was any state involvement in decisions above his head, Howe said: "I’ve not sought any assurances, to be honest. I’ve not given it too much time.
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"I’m aware of the headlines, but I haven’t really invested in the details behind it. I have Manchester City to prepare for and that has taken all my attention.
"I don’t find it difficult. For me, my job is training the players and trying to get them in the best physical, mental and tactical condition to win the game. The minute I deviate from that is the minute I go into dangerous waters."
Howe pointed journalists back to Amanda Staveley's remarks at the Financial Times' business of football summit. It was there that Staveley had said: “The undertaking was that Saudi Arabia would not control the club. "That undertaking has been and is being honoured."
Howe reflected: "Amanda [Staveley] did comment on them yesterday. I do believe that message is out there but the focus comes on me because I am sat here every week. It’s not a conversation for me to brief on these matters because I’m not qualified to do it."
Staveley had also spoken on Sunday about a trophy haul that included the Champions League, the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Premier League. It is felt that Staveley was talking long-term, but Howe said: "I love Amanda's positivity. I have no issue with it.
"With the statements, from my perspective, there is no time limit on that. If we set targets that are maybe too short-term that can have a negative effect. It can build external pressure that the players don't need.
"That is to play free and not to think about the consequences. Time is something that is a very small commodity when you are sat in my shoes here.
"Lowering expectations and controlling that environment is difficult. We have not created a problem for ourselves but the speed the team has improved has been so quick that I think people naturally assume it will continue.
"If it was that easy I think, it's not that easy. To continue on a forward trajectory gets harder and harder to get better.
"We have big challenges ahead and we've got to be smart with what we do. My work will be judged on that evolution of the team."
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