There are various reports coming through tonight that Managing Director Lee Charnley and Rafa Benitez held some good positive talks this afternoon on Rafa staying at Newcastle for next season.
They are said to have discussed what it would take to keep the world-class manager at St James’ Park for next season so he can start overhauling both the club and the Newcastle squad – and potentially return the club immediately back to the Premier League next May.
The report is that Benitez is going to make his decision a few days after Newcastle’s last game of the season on Sunday against Spurs after reviewing the situation.
Rafa Benitez – Newcastle manager
And further meetings with Lee Charnley before Sunday and it’s looking like he may even stay on Tyneside.
Owner Mike Ashley is also said to be very motivated to keep Benitez at the club, and that’s obviously because of the unnecessary relegation of Newcastle due to gross incompetence at the top of the club.
Charnley is said to talked through the key issues with Benitez on Thursday afternoon at the manager’s office at their Benton training ground.
As we reported earlier today these are the key issues:
- Full control of all transfers into and out of the club
- A complete overhaul of the Youth Academy
- A complete overhaul of the Benton Training Facilities
- Control of the medical department
And there are various other reports today that Rafa is seriously considering staying at Newcastle.
Rafa is savvy and smart and he wants the fine details of any agreement made with Charnley to be put in writing before he will agree to scrap the break clause in his contract.
Newcastle officials think the club is in a relatively healthy financial position to deal with next season’s precipitous fall in revenues.
The Mirror is reporting that players will be sold and Benitez will be handed funds to be able to rebuild his Newcastle squad.
We hope he stays – it will give the long-suffering Newcastle supporters some real hope for the future.
If you want to send a message to Rafa asking him to stay, here’s all the contact information for Newcastle United – here.
Here’s Rafa’s twitter account associated with his web-site.
It could be our last chance of being able to build a really top team again on Tyneside.
Go for it.
Howay The Lads!!
70 comments so far
BlacknWhiteBarmy
May 12, 2016 at 6:29 PM
Comment #1Why delay any decision? Theres nothing left to play for so any decision is not going to affect our position.
Can only think its to stop any protests at the final game – 50K people will be hero worshipping Raffa and there will be no heat on the real culprits!!!
All in all another successful season for the FatMan! LOADS OF MONEY
Hail Wor Ashley
May 12, 2016 at 6:32 PM
Comment #2Think it will be a case of once bitten, twice shy.
He wasn’t contemplating relegation, he said so enough times, now he’s taken that hit and no matter that we think he’s unsullied, the perception from others won’t be so forgiving, might only be the tiniest tinge, but it’s there. If he stays he’s putting his reputation on the line in a much bigger way. If he failed to get us promoted first time of asking as hot favourites, there’d be no way back to the big time for him, at least not in the short-term.
Only way I can see him staying is if he wants a legacy club, somewhere he can mould and make in his image, at Liverpool he was successful, but didn’t really build a culture and leave his mark like Wenger/Arsenal, SAF/Man Utd and Mourinho/Chelsea.
He’s an avid football fan and has achieved a lot, so maybe all that’s left is a a project of his own at this crackpot club and then in his latter years an international gig.
I’m not custodian of quixotry, so I’ll go with he’ll scarper on Monday..
Dennis Twice
May 12, 2016 at 6:34 PM
Comment #3Attack Toon attack, attack!
Hail Wor Ashley
May 12, 2016 at 6:35 PM
Comment #4Aaaah, the comforting permanence of Dennis Twice’ battle cry.
Ibizatoon
May 12, 2016 at 6:35 PM
Comment #5Hail…You’re right, there aren’t many other PL clubs that I can think of who’d hire a failed Championship manager.
I’m not filled with much hope that Charnley is the man still tasked with sorting out next season. Doesn’t bode well imo.
GeordieTwo
May 12, 2016 at 6:37 PM
Comment #6I have no idea what’s in Rafa’s mind. Nor does anybody else. I think we can only hope he wants the challenge of making us a competitive club and that Ashley offers him enough power. But Ashley can also do something else positive by sacking the useless dolts he already put in place at the club.
GeordieTwo
May 12, 2016 at 6:40 PM
Comment #7Aye Ibiza, Charnley has to go. If not I can’t see Rafa staying. The man is clearly clueless. Like his predecessors. The best future of all for the club would be the one where Ashley sells up and possibly a consortium of people take it over. We’re talking about a huge financial benefit to the city and a huge lift to the supporters if we go back up at first ask. In my dreams I guess. Reality always seems to fall somewhat short.
BandB
May 12, 2016 at 6:41 PM
Comment #8There’s a mutual interest in keeping the crowd sweet on Sunday.
A crowd serenading our Signor isn’t going to to be any trouble.
But as Jib said earlier, colder eyes than ours are looking at Rafa and saying this guy has a sacking and a relegation on his record this season.
Personally, I don’t even want to think of the alternatives to him staying.
But you can understand why everyone with a vested interest wants a sing-song.
Ibizatoon
May 12, 2016 at 6:48 PM
Comment #9I’m not sure why both support for Rafa and displeasure at the board can’t run hand in hand.
There’s 90 minutes of football being played.
Here’s a question, if you could have Rafa, but the ownership / board setup doesn’t change, would you take it?
AncientC
May 12, 2016 at 6:50 PM
Comment #10A lot is being made of the amount of money spent in the summer, but if you look at it from the perspective that 4 senior players were let go last summer, and 1 senior player with 3 youngters were brought in, it basically tells the whole story.
How was that ever going to be enough for a side, that finished last season the worst team in division. Spending in the mid-season window whilst in the bottom 3 is far too late to attract the required quality.
It was the perfect design for relegation in truth.
GeordieTwo
May 12, 2016 at 6:51 PM
Comment #11I would take it but I don’t see the point Ibiza mate @9. Surely even somebody as clearly dim as Ashley can see that the people in charge this season have failed? If he can’t see that how does he manage to dress himself?
BandB
May 12, 2016 at 6:51 PM
Comment #12Ibizatoon
Unless Rafa is more desperate for the job than he’s been letting on, I think something has to give.
He wanted an end-of-season clause in his contract two months ago.
Nufc-83
May 12, 2016 at 6:53 PM
Comment #13Thump well burton are lucky and have done well (maybe get their advisors ? there’s a lot more failures than success stories when appointing so called up and coming managers
BandB
May 12, 2016 at 6:53 PM
Comment #14But clearly phase one of the comeback hasn’t worked out as planned.
Ibizatoon
May 12, 2016 at 6:53 PM
Comment #15Ancient…The same was said by many in the summer. On the face of it, they were good buys, but were never enough for the challenge ahead.
We were calling out for an experienced striker who would get us the needed goals.
Mitrovich got 8 goals
Perez got 6
Cisse got 3.
Not even 20 between them.
GeordieTwo
May 12, 2016 at 6:54 PM
Comment #16I think many could see it coming. In fact I saw people saying it on the blogs as early as last September. With McTosser smiling and making excuses after every loss and an MD who was clearly incompetent at any level let alone the Prem it wasn’t too difficult to predict it. I thought McLaren should be tossed after 10-12 matches. Many others thought the same. But not Ashley, Charnley or the board clearly.
JDdubai
May 12, 2016 at 6:55 PM
Comment #17I wonder what wages we are paying Wini, Mbemba, Mitrovic etc. I must have been a huge amount to get them to come.
Will there be many teams willing to match the inflated wages for them after they have performed as they have this season in a relegation side? Could be a fair few wont be moved on as they wont take a pay cut and no-one will match the wages- same reason Gouffran, Marveaux etc have stayed for their full contract.
Nufc-83
May 12, 2016 at 6:55 PM
Comment #18Ibizatoon that question for me is so easy as if Rafa stays he’s been given more freedom of transfers and club affairs (or he won’t stay at all if not) so obviously the best thing is for him to stay and build. At the end of the day surely nobody gives a toss about who sits in the boardroom if it’s going ok on the pitch (maybe not with the Ashley hate brigade).
GeordieTwo
May 12, 2016 at 6:56 PM
Comment #19You can’t build a good squad and club with the same people who have brought disaster over the last 2 seasons. That’s what I would tell Ashley if I was Rafa. He can say it politely but it has to be said.
Ron Knee
May 12, 2016 at 6:57 PM
Comment #20Ibiza@9
It would depend how much power Benitez had. If he was no more than a glorified ‘head coach’ then the answer might be no.
SA Toon
May 12, 2016 at 6:58 PM
Comment #21I don’t know about the rest of you, but I would be more gutted to hear that Rafa has turned us down than I was when I heard that we were finally relegated. I’m too far away to make a difference, but those of you who are going to the game, please rock the park on Saturday. We need to show the man that we’ll stick with him if he’ll stick with us. Stay strong lads!
GeordieTwo
May 12, 2016 at 6:58 PM
Comment #2235K a week for Saivet alone if Louise Taylor is correct JD @17. Many of them have no clause to reduce their wage next season either. So it’s just another indicator of what kind of people are running the club.
Nufc-83
May 12, 2016 at 6:59 PM
Comment #23Jddubia that is very harsh on Mbemba for a player younger than lascelles to play alongside colo for most of the season he has been more than good enough and I would gutted if he left
BandB
May 12, 2016 at 6:59 PM
Comment #24I think the relegation may have given the Ashley Brigade (as you call it) some ammunition 83.
Is that offending your sensibilities?
This is a relegation, a demotion, a failure, a loss of status.
That hardly seems to have registered with you.
GeordieTwo
May 12, 2016 at 6:59 PM
Comment #25A careful balance at the ground. Lots of support for Rafa but demands for change have to be there as well. It should be so obvious to Ashley he shouldn’t need telling. Will Mike be there with his bodyguards?
GeordieTwo
May 12, 2016 at 7:02 PM
Comment #26Surely nobody supports the Ashley era as it has happened? I’m proud to be part of the Ashley hate brigade. It seems obvious he has been a liar, and a fool and he has damaged the club to a huge extent. Is any of that unfair?
Nufc-83
May 12, 2016 at 7:04 PM
Comment #27Babdb the difference being I don’t see Ashley being the direct person responsible for this mess more the players and Carr. You can spout the I would have made the change earlier and the book stops with him card all you want but that doesn’t sit with me. These players who fans raved about when signed have been a complete shower and should be treated to a terrible atmosphere on Sunday. The only reason I would not condone the booing of the likes of sossokho and gini is it may put a negative on our bid to keep Rafa.
posada
May 12, 2016 at 7:04 PM
Comment #28If Rafa stays he needs to be working with a top Chief Executive.
That person needs to be a skilled negotiator and understand football contracts.
Also how to keep players motivated in terms of incentives.
Need also a personality as the supporters should hear from him/her from time to time.
Lee Charnley has none of the above qualities and should not apply.
WWSBRD
May 12, 2016 at 7:05 PM
Comment #29I think Rafa will stay but it might be more heart than head
I honestly think he has that feeling that Keggy got, that this club could be something special. only problem is Keegan had the backing of a willing owner whereas Rafa will have to pull teeth…personally I think that’s the hold up, he wants control (or at least his team) and he wants to know he will be backed properly with money, I don’t know if Ashley will allow that
Ibizatoon
May 12, 2016 at 7:06 PM
Comment #30BandB…It is all nicely tying up to be announced after the Spurs game. How convenient.
Nufc 83…There are a few issues with that. Could Rafa be lied to?
More to the point for me, what do the board offer if not the running of the club? If those responsibilities have been taken away from them, why would they still be here?
If everything had been going okay on the pitch, there wouldn’t be any Ashley angst.
G2 & Ron…That’s where I’m at. If this failure is to be placed at the door of the board, then they need to be removed. I’m not sure how the charade can continue.
As for understanding how much power Benitez would have, do we know how much power the current lot have?
Is it Charnley? Is it Carr? Is it irrelevant?
Nufc-83
May 12, 2016 at 7:07 PM
Comment #31Wwsbrd if Rafa was to stay I think he would get assurances of that so he either goes or stays and gets that
Graeme
May 12, 2016 at 7:08 PM
Comment #32The article re Rafa staying!!
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/newcastle-rafael-benitez-hold-positive-7956077#ICID=sharebar_twitter
Ron Knee
May 12, 2016 at 7:09 PM
Comment #33I see Martinez has gone. Or did everybody know that already?
BandB
May 12, 2016 at 7:10 PM
Comment #3483
I try to throw up different aspects of a given situation without necessarily taking a stand on them.
Challenge them, ponder on them.
It’s more challenging than churning out reams of puddingy wishful thinking (usually during transfer windows in your case) and getting a lip on when others put opposing points to you.
posada
May 12, 2016 at 7:10 PM
Comment #35Just looked at the playing squad on nufc.com.
To overhaul the squad you would have to overcome this.
Thauvin, Saivet, Mitrovic and Riviere.
Four complete no hopers that no other club will touch. They are on significant wages and long term contracts.
Wijnaldum Sissoko Janmaat and De Jong need to go, but you we will probably be able to sell them for reasonable money.
Ibizatoon
May 12, 2016 at 7:11 PM
Comment #36So Rafa is meeting with Penfold, looking to get assurances, from a man who himself is under review?
People think lessons have been learnt?
Nufc83…It was Ashley who said the buck stops with him, so not sure why that wouldn’t sit with you.
I do hope Ashleys review of the situation is a little bit more in depth than that of some fans.
If the conclusion is that we’ll simply breeze back up next season, no worries, then I will be seriously worried.
oldarse
May 12, 2016 at 7:13 PM
Comment #37Just got this please send it to anybody you know cheers
https://www.change.org/p/newcastle-united-keep-rafa-benitez-at-newcastle-united?recruiter=417568302&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share_email_responsive
SA Toon
May 12, 2016 at 7:16 PM
Comment #38BlacknWhiteBarmy Not sure where you’re coming from with “LOADS OF MONEY” for Ashley. £80 odd million this season and we’re relegated! Bit of a financial disaster I would say. I’m not sure the blame is to be laid at his door this time (other than for his tolerance of the muppets who’ve been running the club). I reckon it’s all down to the players and management, not the owner. For once he actually came through with his contribution – cash. It just wasn’t spent properly!
Jib
May 12, 2016 at 7:16 PM
Comment #39Ibiza and G2
None of us know , but if Charnley was the prime mover behind contacting and persuading Rafa to come here in the first place 2 months ago , that would tend to even out his performance columns pro and contra , and Rafa staying might just save his hide.
Then Benitez’ power at the club would effectively draw the teeth of Charnley and Carr .
Lee could return to being the contracts negotiator just doing what he’s told.
posada
May 12, 2016 at 7:18 PM
Comment #40On the training facilities.
Anybody know what the problem is.
They were only built during the SBR era. May be 2002 or thereabouts.
Whats so bad about them.