Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has laughed off assistant Jason Tindall’s sudden social media notoriety, after the 45-year-old became an internet sensation for his antics and ability to steal the limelight on the touchline. Tindall can regularly be seen deep in discussion with Howe on the sidelines, as well as speaking to the fourth official throughout games. His touchline tactics have started to wind rival supporters up, with the assistant even trying to convince the officials in one match against Fulham earlier this season that the Cottagers had fielded an extra player. He was booked against Crystal Palace for kicking the ball onto the pitch to prevent a quick throw, and is viewed as the architect of a lot of Newcastle’s so-called ‘dark arts’ and time-wasting this season.
A social media account has recently started to poke fun at Tindall’s apparent need to be ‘the centre of attention’ by documenting a host of instances where he has greeted rival managers before Howe – both before and after matches. When asked about Tindall’s newfound fame, Howe said: ‘We’re both very active on the sidelines, so I’ve encouraged Jason to be that way. We were very much a partnership when we first started in management and we try to do everything we can to help the players. No, he’s a great guy and he’s been brilliant for me this year.’
Tindall joined Bournemouth in 2008 as assistant to Jimmy Quinn; when the latter was sacked in January 2009, Howe was made caretaker manager and kept Tindall on as his assistant before landing the job on a permanent basis. Last month, Brentford boss Thomas Frank name-checked Tindall specifically over his touchline behaviour, saying: ‘We know that Newcastle have their strategy. Jason Tindall is always speaking in the fourth official’s ear throughout the game so we just have to be aware of that.’