Newcastle quickly add manager to ‘emergency’ list to replace Matthias Jaissle after Fulham draw
A draw against Fulham on Saturday afternoon wasn’t quite enough to ease the pressure on Matthias Jaissle at Newcastle United, and now an ‘emergency’ replacement might be on the way.
Newcastle looked close to securing a crucial 1-0 win after Jacob Murphy’s powerful goal in the 80th minute, but Rodrigo Muniz quickly equalized, and the Magpies had to settle for a draw at Craven Cottage.
Jaissle called the result a “step in the right direction” following a disappointing 1-0 loss to Everton on Monday. Still, a single point might not be enough to keep him in charge for the long run.
In a recent Overlap Daily episode, Duncan Ferguson wondered why Newcastle replaced Eddie Howe with Jaissle, saying that his experience and style don’t match the exciting football Howe brought to St James’ Park.
Howe’s team was known for fast, high-pressure play and quick attacks, but Jaissle’s style hasn’t kept up. He even criticized his players for sending too many long balls during the Everton game.
While Newcastle’s leadership, including CEO David Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson, still support Jaissle, reports from Alan Nixon say that former Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is being considered as an ‘emergency’ backup.
On November 8, Nixon shared on X that Newcastle had placed McKenna on an emergency wanted list.
McKenna left Ipswich in June after helping them make it to the Premier League again. He decided to take a break from football to spend more time with his family, with Gary O’Neil stepping in to replace him.
When Fulham were searching for a new manager this summer, McKenna was a strong candidate. But they passed on him because of the high compensation fee involved.
Ipswich will get £8 million from any club that hires McKenna before July 2027 due to a contract clause. After that, he can move freely without any fee.
Since leaving Ipswich, McKenna has worked as a technical observer for UEFA. In this role, he analyses Champions League matches, picks a Man of the Match, and helps select team and player awards.
“I wanted to give myself the best chance to learn before taking on the next challenge,” he told The Guardian in October.
“I’m always going to want to be somewhere that helps players improve, play exciting football, and win games. And beyond that, I want to enjoy being connected to a club and its community, and help build something memorable.”
He also talked about leaving Ipswich, saying he wanted to go out on a high note and be prepared for his next job.
“I wanted to leave with the club doing well, back in the Premier League, and ready for a successful future. Ipswich was a special opportunity, and I’d love to do that again. But you also have to be ready to come in somewhere and make an immediate impact.
“After twenty years in coaching, my approach might be different from someone who only recently stopped playing. I want to enjoy this time, reflect, and be ready for the next step.”