Charlie Austin played under Newcastle coaches Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall at Burnley
Newcastle United Assistant Head Coach Jason Tindall(Image: 2025 Newcastle United)
Newcastle United’s assistant head coach Jason Tindall ‘would get found out’ if he couldn’t back up his touchline persona with his coaching ability.
That is the verdict of former QPR, Burnley and Southampton forward Charlie Austin, who has described the 47-year-old as a ‘top fella’.
Austin played under Eddie Howe and Tindall at Burnley where Tindall had joined the Newcastle boss as his assistant at Turf Moor.
Tindall has been a visible presence on the touchline at Newcastle since Howe brought him to the club as his assistant in November 2021, and has faced jibes from opposition fans who claim he is ‘trying to be the centre of attention’.
Tindall has been nicknamed ‘Mad Dog’ among Newcastle fans and it almost feels like he is happy to be the ‘bad cop’ to Eddie Howe’s ‘good cop’ on the touchline.
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Such has been his influence, the likes of ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp made pointed remarks about his touchline presence in the past but he remains fiercely popular among Newcastle players and supporters.
He has also been Howe’s long-time confidant on the touchline and the Newcastle boss has always worked alongside Tindall in his managerial roles with Bournemouth, Burnley and the Magpies.
During Howe and Tindall’s time at Newcastle, they have twice qualified for the Champions League and ended a 70-year wait to win a domestic trophy by lifting the Carabao Cup last season.
And Austin has defended the Newcastle assistant and while he suggested he ‘plays up’ to the public persona that has been painted of him, he believes his coaching ability more than backs it up.
“I liked him,” Austin told the Undr the Cosh podcast.
“When you only see him on Match of the Day or see a clip of it, you’ll be like: ‘what a d**k’. When you get to know him and you are with him every day, he is an all right fella.
“You’d get found out, not only in the changing room but by the manager. The manager [Eddie Howe] takes him everywhere. So if he was a belter he wouldn’t be getting in the situation, especially in the scenario he is in now with the top end players, you’d get found out even more.
“So I think he plays up to it but he is a top fella. I like it when he jumps in front of Eddie and tries to shake the manager’s hand. That tickles me, like he is the boss and that, but I liked him. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not everyone’s cup of tea, that’s fine, but I thought he was a top fella.”
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