Eddie Howe showed why he must remain king at Newcastle as he answered questions on growing tension with sporting director Paul Mitchell, writes CRAIG HOPE

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Eddie Howe is the smartest man in the building at St James' Park. It is staggeringly stupid that the head coach is in a position where he has to defend himself against comments made by the club's new sporting director.

The new sporting director who, in the nine days since a controversial interview in which he questioned the transfer dealings of Howe and others, has not spoken over the phone or in person with the manager to offer context and reassurance regarding his words.

And so, on Friday morning, Howe answered questions on his relationship with Paul Mitchell, whose last communication with him was through the media. The club should have replaced the sponsors-board backdrop with a washing line and dirty linen.

Howe would rather be talking about football. But, right now, his tactical approach is not confined to the pitch. He dealt with it skilfully, batting away sledgehammer questions such as 'is there a civil war?' - in response to a Mail Sport headline - and instead choosing his shots carefully. He found the boundary when it came to getting his message across.

When, only a few minutes in, he was given an under-armer about how good it was that Mitchell had spoken in public, the brevity of his response was telling. He did not mention Mitchell by name and simply agreed that it was good that others were communicating on finances.

But when Mail Sport pressed Howe on Mitchell's claim that the club's transfer strategy was 'not fit for purpose' before his arrival this summer, he had clearly anticipated the delivery. There was a pause and an intake of breath before he said: 'I think a few things on that.'

For just shy of a minute - a far longer answer than usual - he fiercely defended his transfer record, and with some justification when Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes, Nick Pope, Sven Botman, Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon have been recruited for less than £200million.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe showed he is the smartest man in the building at St James' Park

Howe was clever in the way in which he answered questions regarding Paul Mitchell

'We can hold our heads up very high,' said Howe. 'I took ownership of all those signings. They have been brilliant signings. We love them to bits.'

There is no doubt merit to Mitchell saying that evolution in terms of recruitment practices is needed. But to do it by as good as labelling the current set-up primitive felt needlessly antagonistic. Howe's own nephew, Andy, has been a big part of the scouting department.

So, what did Mitchell mean when he said there was no clear transfer strategy at the club?

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'I think that is for Paul to answer,' said Howe. 'I don't think I can answer for him. The scouting structure was there, and whatever you think about the structures, I thought the results were very good.'

But the claim by Mitchell that he only played a 'supporting role' in recruitment this summer is, we are told, the one that has rankled most internally. The sporting director led negotiations during the failed pursuit of Marc Guehi and was in situ during the final two months of the window. Howe was asked if, instead, it was he who had overseen transfers.

'I don't think it's right for me to make individual comments in reply to Paul's press conference,' he said. 'I don't think that will help our current situation. It's best for me to focus on the future.'

What does the future hold? Chief executive Darren Eales asked the Saudi owners for the keys to kingdom earlier this year, and so began the departure of co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi. The first summer under his watch has been like a not-so-nostalgic throwback to the era of Mike Ashley - claim and counterclaim, tension and unrest.

Newcastle have made some impressive signings while Howe has been at the club, including Alexander Isak

The first summer under the watch of chief executive Darren Eales has been like a throwback to the Mike Ashley era

Newcastle were unsuccessful in their attempt to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi

Eales has formed a close allegiance with Mitchell, and together they are going to do things their way. But if that way makes the head coach feel alienated - and Friday's press conference was an example of this - then the club's Saudi owners need to take more care in protecting what is truly their most valuable asset.

Howe wants to stay. He wants to be happy. He wants the relationship with Mitchell and Eales to work. He wants to continue what he has started, not hear those above him write off some of it as a false start. 

He is open to change, and he spoke positively about the influence of new performance director James Bunce, who has made tweaks to the training programme. If that benefits Howe and his team, the head coach will be receptive. What he is unlikely to welcome is another transfer window like the one gone, as well as press conferences mopping up the spillages of others.

Howe is too smart for that, and it's about time his club caught up.