Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe says he would still have taken the job on Tyneside before had the club's Middle East takeover not gone through.
The former AFC Bournemouth boss was spoken about within the fanbase as a preferred candidate to replace Steve Bruce when the ex-Man United star found himself under pressure at St James' Park. Bruce eventually left when the new owners came in six months ago with Howe appointed in November.
When asked if he'd still have taken the job during the more controversial Mike Ashley era, Howe said: "Yeah absolutely I would have been because of the size of the club, its history, the support base - everything connected with Newcastle, they are the reasons I’d be interested in the job.
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"I’m absolutely loving the responsibility and the challenge. The day-to-day job is one that I’m really embracing."
Newcastle find themselves six months into a new project with Howe very close to leading the team to safety in the Premier League. Reflecting on the six-month anniversary, Howe reflected: "There have been subtle changes. Because we are in the middle of the season and we are so involved with the team and the players we have, the way we want to play, that has taken most of my energy.
“Building the club and improving the infrastructure that is going to come another day. There have been subtle changes rather than dramatic."
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