EDDIE HOWE admits it would “feel a bit of betrayal” to leave St. James’ Park but says a decision on Newcastle’s new stadium must not be driven by romance.
Plans have already been drawn up for a £1bn-plus rebuild of their current as well as for a new stadium in a location away from the city centre.
Chiefs and architects are still investigating which option would be best long-term and supporters will have to wait until next year to find out the decision.
The stadium topic has left the Toon Army torn – but staying at their current “unique” home is the head coach’s preference if he’s thinking with his heart alone.
Ahead of the trip to Everton, which Howe confirmed Alexander Isak (broken toe) will miss but goalie Nick Pope and Kieran Trippier will be fit for, he said: “I think my natural instinct was always to stay at St. James’ Park. It’s an incredible place to play football.
“It’s our home, so to think about moving somewhere else feels a little bit of a betrayal to somewhere that has served us so well.
“But we are well aware that as a football club we need to increase our revenue so people with more brain cells will make the decision for the benefit of the long term future of the football club and that’s always the most important thing so I could be swayed but just my natural instinct is to want to stay.
“It’s a massive decision because it will affect the next how many years of the football club.
“It’s a decision where you won’t be able to please everybody. There will be different opinions.
“It’s truly only the people assessing the pros and cons that can really make the decision.”
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One possible option for the club could be to build on Leazes Park, which is next to St. James’, meaning that the special location Howe loves would remain.
He continued: “The positioning where it is in the city is totally unique.
“I’d hate to see the stadium move from its current position because it dominates the eyeline of the whole city and you can see it from miles around. That’s really inspiring.
“Wherever you are in Newcastle, you get a glimpse and, personally, I always think to the next game where we are going to be there.
“It’s not necessarily the biggest, there’s just something about the look of the stadium and the feel of it. When you’re there it’s just a great place to play football.
“When you’re in it, I don’t know how it creates it, but the atmosphere, the look of the stadium, is a beautiful thing. I love being there, I love experiencing games there and I love winning there. That’s the best bit.”
However, with PSR rules stunting their progress under the club’s Saudi owners, Howe knows a potential new super stadium could help them long-term reach the summit.
He added: “I think you have to also look at what you could gain, you can’t just look at what you’re going to lose.
“What you could gain could be equally as special and the club has to move forward. It can’t be stuck in the past or be romantic to a degree.
“There’s finances to think of and that will affect the long-term success of the club so that is why it’s not a clearcut decision.”
LUCA BRECEL is targeting a remarkable feat of endurance following his recent health kick.
The 2023 snooker world champ has dropped 10kg after focusing on fitness over the summer.
Brecel has struggled for form since his stunning win over Mark Selby at the Crucible last year.
The 29-year-old has since embarked on a fitness journey away from the table.
And now he’s eyeing up a physical feat not for the faint-hearted – an Ironman triathlon.
Brecel told SportsBoom: “I’m really eying up an Ironman one day.
“I need to get a lot better and get in shape, but it’s a big goal for me.
“That’s the aim. I’d definitely get the Ironman tattoo, one hundred per cent.”
The gruelling event consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle, and a 26.2-mile marathon run.
He added: “I’d keep the trophy and the medal or whatever you get as well, it would mean a lot to me.
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“I’m not like that in snooker, but it would be an amazing achievement, so I’d keep that.
“The replica World Championship trophy has been in the basement somewhere for a long time, I’ve never really seen it. But this one I’d keep out definitely.”
Brecel looked more like himself at last month’s British Open, reaching the third round before defeat to Jak Jones.
The Belgian Bullet is determined to lose more weight as he prepares for fixtures over the winter.
Brecel continued: “I’m feeling the best I ever have in my life.
“I’m trying to get in as good a shape as possible, I’m feeling better in myself because I’m losing weight as well and I’m trying to lose some more.
“It’s good for you mentally. I always used to run about three or four years ago.
“I used to always reach zone two heart rate and now I’m trying to reach higher to really get the heart pumping.
“I feel like it’s working really well and I’m really looking forward to trying to get better every time.”
KIRSTY MacColl and her band are remembered for serving up what’s considered the greatest Christmas song of all time.
Here we take a look at the Pogues‘ lead singer’s life, music and tragic death.
Kirsty Anna MacColl was born in Croydon, South London, on October 10, 1959.
She was the daughter of musical parents — her father Ewan MacColl was a folk singer, and her mother Jean Newlove a professional dancer.
By the time Kirsty was born, her parents had split up, with Ewan going on to marry another folk singer Peggy Seeger.
Kirsty married music producer Steve Lillywhite in 1984.
The pair shared two children together, Jamie and Louis, but divorced in 1994.
Kirsty sang on a number of tracks produced by Lillywhite while they were married, most notably the song she’s best known for — Fairytale Of New York.
Kirsty died in a scuba diving accident off the coast of Mexico in December 2000.
A keen diver, MacColl brought her two sons on holiday for a well-needed break after a relentless 18 months of working.
The family travelled to Cozumel and it’s said Kirsty planned on introducing her two boys to scuba diving for the first time there.
While in the water, MacColl was tragically hit by a speedboat travelling illegally in an area designated for swimmers.
A statement at the time confirmed neither of her sons were injured in the accident.
In the statement, MacColl was described as a “bright, fun-loving person as well as a talented singer and writer who was loved by anybody and everybody she came into contact with”.
Shortly after her death, her body was returned to the UK where she was cremated close to her home town of Croydon.
At the time of her death, Kirsty was just 41 years old.
Kirsty is best known for the ultimate Christmas song, Fairytale Of New York, on which she duetted with none other than The Pogues front man, Shane MacGowan.
But MacColl’s musical career began long before the song hit the airwaves in 1988.
Over two decades and five albums, MacColl recorded over 160 songs, ultimately released in an eight-disc boxset by Universal in October 2023.
Among these tracks features A New England, a classic female rock song she recorded in her early twenties.
A New England peaked at No7 in the UK charts in 1985, with There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis, reaching No14 in 1981.
She had another top twenty hit in 1989 with Days, which reached a high of No12.
However, none of her other works reached the same status as the drunken duet, Fairytale Of New York.
Strangely, when first released the hit song didn’t even make it to the Christmas number one slot, peaking at No2.
Recorded with The Pogues’ original bassist Cait O’Riordan, MacColl stepped in on vocals when O’Riordan left the band in 1986.
After test recording the vocals, it’s said the band fell in love with her voice and had to keep it on the track.
Shane MacGowan tragically died on Thursday November 30, 2023.
Shane passed away at the age of 65 following an eight year battle with encephalitis.
Hs death occurred just a few days after he celebrated his fifth wedding anniversary.
His wife Victoria shared a heartbreaking statement announcing the star’s death: “I don’t know how to say this so I am just going to say it.
“Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel and the sun and the moon and the start and end of everything that I hold dear has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese.
“I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him and to have had so many years of life and love and joy and fun and laughter and so many adventures.”
She added: “There’s no way to describe the loss that I am feeling and the longing for just one more of his smiles that lit up my world.
“Thank you thank you thank you thank you for your presence in this world you made it so very bright and you gave so much joy to so many people with your heart and soul and your music.
“You will live in my heart forever.
“Rave on in the garden all wet with rain that you loved so much.
“You meant the world to me.”
Shane is survived by his wife, father Maurice and sister Siobhan.
PLANS for a new hub by Premier Inn hotel are underway and it’s set to be the largest one in the UK to date.
Whitbread, the owner of Premier Inn, has just received planning permission to build the hotel, which will be located at 5 Strand in London.
The 693-room hotel will be a couple of doors down from Charing Cross Station and within sight of Nelson’s Column and Trafalgar Square.
There is currently a partially demolished office block on the site, which is located opposite the Co-Op on the Strand.
The new Premier Inn isn’t the first hotel development to be proposed on the site – it was previously earmarked for a 200-room Park Hyatt Hotel, with a rooftop bar and restaurant.
Instead, it will now become home to the latest London property under Whitbread’s hub by Premier Inn brand.
hub by Premier Inn is a hotel concept from the company that offers stylish, compact rooms in central locations in London and Edinburgh.
It was launched in 2013 and the first hotel opened in Covent Garden in 2014.
The brand has since grown to 18 hotels across London and Edinburgh.
Other hub by Premier Inn hotels in London are located in Camden, Bank, Clerkenwell, Goodge Street, Kings Cross, Marylebone, Paddington, Shoreditch, Soho, Brick Lane, Tower Bridge, West Brompton, Westmister Abbey, and St James’s Park.
Rooms are designed to be comfortable, convenient, and consistent with Premier Inn, but in a smaller package.
They include a touchscreen control panel for lighting and temperature, 40″ smart TVs, high-powered showers, and beds.
Some rooms have windows, but some are window-free.
The new 16,000 sqm development will feature 13 floors including ground floor space fronting onto the Strand and Northumberland Street.
Mark Anderson, managing director for property and international for Whitbread, said: “Hub by Premier Inn was launched a decade ago in St Martin’s Lane, a few hundred metres from 5 Strand.
“The brand has blossomed into a network of 18 popular hub hotels in Central London and Edinburgh and has become a proven model for bringing our affordable bedrooms into the most central, vibrant, and connected locations for our guests.
“5 Strand is an excellent example of how we think the hub by Premier Inn brand can evolve in Central London. It also shows how we can use Whitbread’s strong balance sheet to acquire the best positioned, most accessible, and high-demand locations in the capital to grow our brands.
“With planning permission now secured we will move quickly to begin construction of the new hotel and deliver a true flagship location for our guests.”
Whitbread recently announced plans for a 207-room hub by Premier Inn property within a “under-utilised” car parking space under The Brunswick Centre in London’s Bloomsbury.
The group said the hotel’s rooms, reception and communal guest areas will feature “cutting edge lighting technology which provides a natural spectrum of light following the human circadian rhythm”.
Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey stayed at Premier Inn at Gatwick Airport, located just outside the North Terminal…
The Premier Inn hotel is literal steps from the Gatwick shuttle – just take the lift down and cross the road and it is right in front of you.
Celebrating its 10th-anniversary last year, it’s currently undergoing some new room refurbishments.
The hotel is open 24/7, due to its nature as an airport hotel, but has more than 10 self-check-in booths for a speedy rush to your room, although the four very slow lifts leave something to be desired if you are in a rush.
With 701 bedrooms, I ended up in their brand new Premier Plus rooms, found on the ninth ‘quieter’ floor, which was very clean.
I had great views of the airport, so I could watch some of the planes take off.
There is also a Nespresso coffee machine and kettle with chocolates, a large shower with toiletries and towels and a mini-
There is also a Nespresso coffee machine and kettle with chocolates, a large shower with toiletries and towels and a mini-fridge with complimentary water.
Plus unlike many hotels, they’d placed a USB socket near the bed, so you don’t have to worry if you forget your plug.
The rooms weren’t perfect – the WiFi didn’t seem to stretch to the top of the hotel – but they are definitely worth the extra £10 for some added luxury.
The hotel is often full so I had to book dinner and breakfast in advance as it gets busy.
But it has a range of classic comfort food options, including burgers, pizza and curries.
I opted for a lasagne, followed by a brownie with a glass of wine.
They didn’t have everything listed – they were bizarrely out of avocado, French dressing and naans, but there is more than enough to choose from even if your favourite isn’t there.
Like all airport travellers, I was mainly there to get a decent night’s kip and with the black-out curtains and barely any noise seeping through the walls – it passed with flying colours.
THE number of people sick with norovirus is more than double what’s typically expected for this time of year.
At least 503 people tested positive for the “extremely contagious” winter vomiting bug in September, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) figures show.
That’s a 133 per cent jump from the five-season average of 216.
Experts have warned that infection rates are “likely” to continue rising in the coming weeks as children return to classrooms across the country.
Adults and children who might have the bug are being urged to stay home from work and school.
Norovirus – also known as the “winter vomiting bug” – is a highly infectious viral illness.
The report, based on laboratory test results, suggests that the rise in detected cases may be linked to changes in disease surveillance methods following the pandemic.
Changes to testing and reporting to national surveillance, and the weather getting colder are also considered possible factors in the report.
Not all norovirus cases are reported or tested, so the actual number of infections is likely to be much higher.
Most cases are being recorded in the over-65s, though the virus, which triggers sickness and diarrhoea, continues to affect all age groups.
Amy Douglas, epidemiologist at UKHSA said: “Since April, norovirus levels have remained higher than expected and with kids returning to school over the last few weeks, cases are likely to rise.”
Parents already facing backlash from the rise in cases have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to express their concerns.
Kathryn (@kadamssl) shared, “Kids are literally throwing up in the hallway of my daughter’s school.”
Faye Ameredes (@FAmeredes) added, “My grandson’s school has closed due to norovirus. Yuk! Don’t know how many days this will last.
There have been 753 lab reports so far this year, compared to a five-season average of 476.
Amy urged anyone with diarrhoea and vomiting to take vital steps to avoid passing it on.
She said: “Do not return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don’t prepare food for others in that time either.
“If you are unwell, avoid visiting people in hospitals and care homes to prevent passing on the infection in these settings.
NOROVIRUS usually goes away on its own after a couple of days and doesn't require medical attention.
But you might need to speak to a doctor if:
And if you spot any of the following signs, it’s vital to seek urgent care:
Source: NHS
“Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces will also help stop infections from spreading.”
She added: “Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus so don’t rely on these alone.”
Norovirus is a highly contagious stomach bug that causes vomiting (often projectile) and diarrhoea.
It is commonly accompanied by aching arms and legs, a high temperature, abdominal pain, and a headache, according to the NHS.
The bug spreads easily through contact with someone who has the virus or with contaminated surfaces or foods.
This makes nurseries, schools, workplaces, hospitals, care homes, cruise ships, and family homes over the colder months perfect breeding grounds.
While most people make a full recovery within a few days, norovirus can lead to dehydration, especially among the very young, the elderly or those with weakened immune systems.
THE Adult Swim trend has not disappeared from our screens for a few years on TikTok because users love the nostalgia.
It has really encouraged some creativity, with users producing videos that have attracted millions of likes and views – here’s the trend explained.
AS stands for Adult Swim, which is the name given to American channel Cartoon Network’s overnight programming block.
It is known for airing more adult animated or live-action shows with darker themes.
To date, it has been the home of Black Jesus and Adventuretime, as well as The Boondocks, Black Dynamite and Rick and Morty.
The channel uses ‘bumps’, which are brief transition clips between adverts and TV shows.
Much like the way that Channel 4 in the UK use bumps featuring a large ‘4’ logo, Adult Swim uses the logo [as] in its sequences.
Often, the letters are hidden and finally revealed at the end of the clip.
The quirky and indie style of Adult Swim’s bumps has struck a chord with TikTok users.
The Adult Swim trend has seen users try to recreate and parody the Adult Swim ‘bumps’.
Users incorporate the letters [AS] into the short video in the most creative ways they can.
One video includes a man sweeping popcorn in an empty cinema, only for the popcorn to be shown arranged into the letters.
Another sees a boy at his computer spill a can of cashew nuts, which ‘spill’ to create [AS] out of the cashews.
The song is named Running Away and is the work of TikTok producer Vano 3000.
The beat is sampled from BADBADNOTGOOD’s Time Moves Slow feat Sam Herring.
The song now has nearly 200,000 uses on the app.
Vano started music out of his truck in Florida and has since produced various beats on TikTok.
After his track went viral, Vano 3000 spoke to Insider.
He said he’s a fan of the trend: “I watch Adult Swim every single night, like, I grew up on Adult Swim,
“I just thought it was so genius. I’m like, I love Adult Swim, you know? And then the cartoon selection that they’ve got and all that, I just love their aesthetic.”
ITV has given fans a first look at the revamped Big Brother house after its ‘trippy’ makeover – but they’re already branding it an ‘eyesore’.
Host Will Best, 39, revealed the huge changes on This Morning today as he entered the famous property for the first time following its revamp.
And this year’s space is even more vibrant than before, with contestants entering via a neon orange and yellow staircase splashed with bold paint designs.
While much of the house remains a surprise, we did get a peek at some funky gold accents, lush plants, and mustard yellow walls.
The corridor leading to the iconic diary room is now decked out with bright neon lights – with much of the property featuring funky gold accents, lush plants and mustard yellow walls.
A bright orange and red palette has been chosen for the living room, complete with a yellow sofa for the new housemates to get to know one another
Another glimpse of the house showed off the dining room, featuring a long pink marble-style table, perfect for housemates to enjoy their meals together.
Viewers were quick to jump on social media and share their thoughts on the new house, admitting they weren’t so keen.
One wrote on X: “While the house is the same layout, I’m just happy that it has been given new paint to go with the theme such as paint dripping on the walls. Much better than last year got to say.”
Another added: “The house is an eyesore. ITV we expected better!” with a third fuming: “It looks horrendous.”
Someone else asked: “Did they really just give the ‘new’ BB house a paint job and call it a day?”
A fourth posted: “I know we’ve only seen the kitchen and stairs but I must say I’m very underwhelmed by ITV’s efforts so far with the house. Each house should have a unique feel and vibe for new HMs… I’m not getting that at all this year.”
Big Brother: Live Launch, Sunday at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX