'Howe will go down as one of our best managers in modern times'

[Getty Images] Newcastle fan Samantha Rees has told BBC Radio 5 Live that Eddie Howe "will go down as one of our best managers in modern times" regardless of last season's underwhelming finish. Speaking on the Football Daily podcast, Rees said she "couldn't believe it" when she heard the news on Thursday morning that Howe is expected to leave the club with immediate effect . She had been at Bristol City on Wednesday for the pre-season friendly defeat. "Social media is toxic and you had some fans that really wanted him out last season, but I always thought they should give him a bit longer," she said. "We didn't have a very good season, but I was very shocked [by the news]. I really thought he might have given it a bit longer. "In terms of fans that are at the matches, I'd say 70% were behind Eddie, but the other 30% thought he had gone as far as he could. "He won us the [League Cup] trophy and got us into the Champions League [twice], so a lot thought he deserved the chance. Then there was the Alexander Isak saga and players not coming to us, so he was bound to get frustrated. "I don't blame him [for leaving], but I feel really sad that it has come to this. "I feel sorry for him as he's probably had no control over the things that have been happening and I hope he knows the majority of the fan base wish him well. "He will go down as one of our best managers in modern times because he won us a trophy after waiting all that time for it. "He gave me one of the best days of my life." Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds