ASH', BANG WALLOP HITS HOWE HARD

NEWCASTLE boss Eddie Howe has admitted his transfer plans have been torpedoed by the departure of a second sporting director in as many summers.

- BY SIMON CASS

NEWCASTLE boss Eddie Howe has admitted his transfer plans have been torpedoed by the departure of a second sporting director in as many summers.

Howe has had to cope with the loss of Dan Ashworth last year, while his successor, Paul Mitchell, departed St James' Park last month.

So far Anthony Elanaga is their only new arrival of the summer while Howe is also having to cope with the increasing speculation about the future of star striker Alexander Isak.

A frustrated Howe conceded: "My wish was for us to do our business early and we certainly tried, but it wasn't to be.