There’s an update this morning on the Newcastle situation, with The Sun reporting that Newcastle have formally offered Rafa Benitez the Newcastle manager job until the end of the season – and they want him to take over immediately and certainly before the crucial game at Leicester City on Monday night.
The report is that Rafa is now considering the offer and we suppose Steve McClaren will keep his job until Rafa accepts the job – hopefully today – but if he turns it down we have no idea what will happen next with Steve McClaren still in the head coach position five days after the Bournemouth disgrace on Saturday.
And we will again have the bizarre situation that Steve McClaren will turn up at the Benton Training grounds today to take the training with the players, although the press conference for the Leicester City game which was scheduled to take place today has been cancelled.
Rafa Benitez – considering accepting Newcastle manager job
Why McClaren wasn’t fired shortly after the debacle on Saturday afternoon we have no idea – but he should have been – and that would have pushed Newcastle to appoint a new manager quickly.
But that would have been Newcastle taking decisive action, which doesn’t seem to happen and this has been a rather bizarre and strange situation all week that could only happen at Newcastle.
And there have also been discussions of a permanent position in the summer with Rafa representatives, with Newcastle willing to go to a manager position from a head coach position and give Rafa full control of transfers, which has been the remit of Chief Scout Graham Carr for a while now.
Steve McClaren is also reported to be furious, upset and disappointed with the way he has been treated since Saturday.
The first contract from Lee Charnley was yesterday afternoon, with a brief call that Steve had demanded – after the Managing Director had not spoken to him at all since the Bournemouth game.
In fact Steve wanted a face-to-face meeting with Charnley, but the MD pulled out and made a short telephone call to the former England manager yesterday afternoon shortly before Steve left the training grounds for his home in Yarm, which is close to Stockton-on-Tees.
The Sun is reporting this is a farcical situation.
We are concerned that if Rafa looks too closely at the unprofessional and bizarre way in which Newcastle have managed this situation heavy-handed since last Saturday, he could even turn the job offer down.
That would be catastrophic for Newcastle, but indicative of a club that is in a mess from top to bottom – to use Alan Shearer’s description of Newcastle’s situation this season.
We hope to hear news today that the former Liverpool boss has accepted the Newcastle job through the end of the season.
That would come as a huge relief to Newcastle supporters everywhere.
Comments welcome.
62 comments so far
magscar
Mar 10, 2016 at 5:49 AM
Comment #1Interestingly the Sun has it that McClaren didn’t turn up for the scheduled meeting but instead went home.
Taking that at face value this was a unilateral decision on McLaren’s part taken in defiance of Charnley and his lack of public support. Could equally be Sun weren’t aware that Charnley had rung McClaren to cancel and forgot to tell Sun.
Well let the saga roll on hopefully to the point we can actually feel that it was worth it. Not easy keeping the faith but when was it!
Geordiedownunder
Mar 10, 2016 at 5:55 AM
Comment #2After all these years following these lads under FCB, I’ve just realised their weakness…….. They fade in the last 90 minutes.
The overrated Frenchman
Mar 10, 2016 at 5:59 AM
Comment #3Appointing Charnley might be Ashley’s worst decision since he bought the club. Think on that for a minute…
Veltman
Mar 10, 2016 at 6:00 AM
Comment #4ED – the timing of your latest articles have been strange lately in the last few days.From that,I have noticed that you get too worried than anyone else and are unable to sleep.
Chill out man.Everything is gonna be fine.Just take one or two p*** and relax.
If Benitez turn as down,it’s not end of z world 😛
Jail for Ashley
Mar 10, 2016 at 6:19 AM
Comment #5What’s all this about Mclaren being a fantastic man, he’s had multiple blatant affairs behind his wife’s back and the way he treated Derby knowing he had a job lined up here, he still held out for compo rather than resign with a bit of dignity, he’s a multi millionaire through being sacked. All this about him looking after the kids. We don’t need his losing mentality anywhere near the club, the nearest he should get to us now is commentating for some Central Asian country for 90 minutes every three months.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 10, 2016 at 6:25 AM
Comment #6ToF,
There are simply too many to list one as the worst, I think that decision to make sure we couldn’t ever finish higher than tenth was one of his worst.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 10, 2016 at 6:31 AM
Comment #7According to Look North “Former fans favourite Keith Gillespe has urged the club to stick with Mclaren”
Keith Bishops work perhaps, KG the only ex player skint enough to come out with such shite!
firebug666
Mar 10, 2016 at 6:41 AM
Comment #8Jail
Yesterday I posted a link to a piece by Jermaine Jenas who had worked with McClaren when he was a coach, and when he was a manager gave a very good insight into why McClaren in never going to make a good manager.
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/jermaine-jenas-exclusive–why-top-coach-mcclaren-is-failing-as-a-manager-115414430.html
Lindisfarne
Mar 10, 2016 at 6:51 AM
Comment #9Si si si si si si si si si si si
ash1001
Mar 10, 2016 at 6:54 AM
Comment #10This situation with Mclaren just demonstratives that those owning and running the club are way out of their depth, if they are going to sack the guy – GET ON AND DO IT, if not say so!
Once again we are the laughing stock of football as ROME continues to burn, one wonders how Ashley made his millions with a management style like that been shown by Charnley and others at NUFC. Its a bit like watering the pitch before kick-off and its actually peeing down.
Charnley you are a disgrace to the good folks of Tyneside, oh forgot we are just thick geordie muppets – but we have a sense of pride.
Santon03
Mar 10, 2016 at 6:59 AM
Comment #11sm hasn’t been sacked, is there possiblity that he would become Rafa’s assistant?
Ron Knee
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:00 AM
Comment #12If negotiations fall through does Charmless turn to Moyes next? And while those negotiations continue does McClaren have to lead the team out at Leicester?
Jail for Ashley
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:01 AM
Comment #13Santon03,
Why??
There is no point in keeping him around, he’s got a losing mentality, let him take it to the mackems
firebug666
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:01 AM
Comment #14Santon03
Rafa want’s his own people in, but Macca could be heading into another job more suited to his role on the board of directors.
The overrated Frenchman
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:02 AM
Comment #15Charnley, it seems to me, is a prime case of someone of middle-management intellect being over-promoted. He obviously knows how to cross the t’s and dot the i’s, and do what he’s told well enough. But the transition to actually being in charge, being able to make important decisions quickly and effectively takes a different skill-set, and our little man ain’t got it, as he has consistently shown.
Ron Knee
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:07 AM
Comment #16firebug
So that would explain the smile on McClaren’s face, maybe?
firebug666
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:15 AM
Comment #17Ron
I would think so.
He had that phone conversation yesterday, and seemed a lot happier leaving the ground, we know and he knows he is for the chop, we know and he knows the board are actively seeking his replacement.
He is happy to keep doing the job until a replacement is signed.
He is being sacked as head coach, but nothing has been mentioned about his position on the board of directors.
I really do think he has been offered another role in the club.
RonVanDam
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:22 AM
Comment #18Don’t know if there’s any truth to this article but it states benetiz has accepted a 3 years deal
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/rafa-benitez-agrees-3-year-deal-coach-newcastle-cadena-cope/
toonheroes
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:22 AM
Comment #19I really wouldn’t mind McLaren staying on in another capacity if we get Benitez. Perhaps as head of youth development. His training skills could be put to good use as our academy needs a shake up as well. Don’t know whether he’d be happy with that though.
firebug666
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:27 AM
Comment #20toonheroes
After this season I would think McClaren would be happy with any job offered, I doubt he would get a managers job in either of the top two leagues after the shambles he made of Derby’s run in, which he continued here with some diabolical displays.
Head of youth development, DoF or match day toilet attendant and anything in between.
lochinvar
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:36 AM
Comment #21The best scenario emerging would be:
Charnley – out ( resign or sack ) – he brings nothing to the club
Carr – retire gracefully
Moncur – retire gracefully
McLaren – stay on Board as Head of Development – so all teams from Reserves down and Academy development. He’s respected as a football man and coach ( despite recent failings ) so would be a better Board member than Chanley.
Rava – Manager.
Might be the solution ?
The overrated Frenchman
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:37 AM
Comment #22I agree toonheroes. Someone like Pardew I wouldn’t have wanted anywhere near the club, same as most of our ex-managers. Maybe Hughton as an exception. But McClaren would be great in a development role I reckon. Beardsley and co. are not getting it done based on what we see, that’s for sure.
AncientC
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:41 AM
Comment #23Benitez seems too negative is his tactics for me, it could be exactly what the side needs, but I don’t believe negative football is NUFC genomics.
The overrated Frenchman
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:43 AM
Comment #24lochinvar, personally I’d like to see Carr sacked before he could retire. I’d actually like to see him charged with something and do can but that’s wishful thinking I guess.
toonheroes
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:44 AM
Comment #25firebug666
We desperately need more knowledge at the club. There are gaping holes everywhere in the management structure.
toonheroes
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:49 AM
Comment #26The overrated Frenchman
I agree. I wouldn’t have suggested Pardew or Carver either, but McLaren is a gentleman by all accounts and that is something that has been seriously lacking in recent years. A father figure for the kids is whats needed
Jail for Ashley
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:51 AM
Comment #27What’s with this clamour for Mclaren to stay on, he’s shown that he’s a willing patsy with no scruples. We need a proper DoF to come in on his terms and tell everyone what’s needed.
toon kk
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:51 AM
Comment #28Everyone has to get real, if Rafa does accept the job he’s not going to real Madrid where he had top quality players, he’d be working with mainly championship quality, so don’t expect miracles, we’ll still be relegated, Macca should have been sacked ages ago, it’s too late now.
AncientC
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:52 AM
Comment #29Oh yes, Carr with a mandate to find cheap French players with good statistics is to blame, not his mandate. Why are the 2nd rate coaches not getting world class performances out of the 2nd rate budget buys? Goodness knows.
gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:55 AM
Comment #30toon kk
I fear you are correct.
Rotonda heights
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:57 AM
Comment #31I don’t think SM can in any way be as furious as the fans are at his abject performance all season!! He gets another nice pay off for yet another failure on his CV.
Yes NUFC as with all thinngs could have handled it better but no tears shoud be shed for this clown who has taken us to the brink.
Appointing RAFA takes us to another level but I hope this means the end of Charnley and Carr too as we simly can’t have them disastrously meddling in things any longer.
The head coach role works when you also have other top people in situ, NUFC at this point simply don’t, so Rafa has to be given a free hand.
Lindisfarne
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:58 AM
Comment #32Jail for Ashley
I would not keep SMC anywhere near the first team, but when you look at the clubs managerial structure it would make sense to perhaps keep him as Head of the Academy/Reserves, retaining his position on the Board. It just depends on the salary difference between him and Beardo, but it would contribute to more footballing knowledge in the higher echelons. Plus a new Managing Director would be good, pushing LC to club Secretary; and more likely than a complete clean sweep.
toonheroes
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:58 AM
Comment #33Jail that’s why I said head of youth development, not DOF. For me, DOF is another position which needs filling. Keegan would be perfect for that but that bridge has unfortunately been burned.
Lindisfarne
Mar 10, 2016 at 7:59 AM
Comment #34However, this is all a distraction to the main requirement to remove SMC from his current First team duties.
sing in the corner
Mar 10, 2016 at 8:00 AM
Comment #35It’s widely accepted that SM is out now, having lost the club, not just the players. So…
Feeling very sceptical about the Benitez rumours until there’s something concrete. Trying to look at it objectively, I don’t see what would be the attraction for him myself. Does he need this? Now?
I will be over the moon to be wrong! He has tremendous pedigree, and is potentially the best tactician, shrewdest manager we have had in my lifetime.
I just can’t help thinking it’s more likely media self interest, whipping up speculation. Or Rafa getting in the spotlight for a position he’d rather have elsewhere..
As I say, I would be delighted if he comes..
Rotonda heights
Mar 10, 2016 at 8:01 AM
Comment #36Ancient
Elliot
Janmatt M’Bemba, Lascelles MBabu
Sissoko Shelvey Saviet
Perez / Mitro Wijni / De Jong Aarons / Townsend
Don’t see any 2nd division French players there.
toonheroes
Mar 10, 2016 at 8:09 AM
Comment #37As a quick distraction as we wait for the hopefully inevitable just imagine this scenario.
DOF Keegan, Head of youth development McLaren, Manager Benitez. Ambassador Shearer. With that dream setup, we could attract any players we wanted. Anyway have to work now so back to reality.
Rotonda heights
Mar 10, 2016 at 8:09 AM
Comment #38sing
I think Rafa has always been interested in taking on ”projects” where he can mould a club in his own image from top to bottom, root and branch if you will.
On the surface great stadium, 52000 fans, nothing won of any serious note since 1955. If he cracks it here then he’d be an absolute god.
My worry is that mealy mouthed interference from Ash, Charmless and Carr not giving him full autonomy will scupper it.
Carr, Charnley and Ash have failed the club in every way possible. This is no sudden epiphany appointing a top manager after 8.5 years, it’s a realisation of how much we’d lose going down.
Harley
Mar 10, 2016 at 8:12 AM
Comment #39Well all of this must be true if it’s in the sun.
Rotonda heights
Mar 10, 2016 at 8:13 AM
Comment #40ancient
rafa had chelsea playing some sublime stuff . i know a lot of their fans were sad he went