This is the first press conference since Newcastle have gained that automatic promotion spot – our major goal for this season.
Next season’s goal is top four in the Premier League and the season after that the goal will be to win the Champions League outright.
What the heck’s in my coffee this morning?
🙂 🙂 🙂
Rafa Benitez – gave press conference for Cardiff City game tomorrow night
Excuse me I got carried away again – back to reality.
The major news coming out of the press conference this afternoon is that Mike Ashley has already called Rafa, talked to him and congratulated him on the promotion and a job well done – so that story in the Times was not accurate today.
This is good news for Newcastle fans.
Rafa has already talked to Mike about what he wants to do this summer and has been in constant communication with Lee Charnley, including yesterday.
The HMRC investigation is related to something that happened over four or five years ago.
Mr. Benitez will have his one-on-one meeting with Mike Ashley and talk about everything – including himself – he seems to be looking forward to it.
It doesn’t seem to us there is a big rift between Mike And Rafa from the manager’s comments today, but the manager is very very ambitious because he wants to make Newcastle United great again.
🙂 🙂 🙂
Here’s some of what Rafa said:
“What we have achieved has been really important for everyone here.”
“It is a great achievement, and the players deserve credit for that.”
“We had to create a new team competing in this division but they did really well. If we win, we will break the away record”
“If we win our games and Brighton make mistakes, we will be champions. We will try to do it.”
“Cardiff are very competitive. It will be a difficult game.”
“We will challenge Brighton and see what happens. We have two games, and we have to do our best.”
“Lascelles, Ritchie, Hanley and Anita are not in the squad. They need to rest injuries. We hope to have them for the last one”
“With all these things going on (HMRC) we’re trying to do business as usual.”
“It happened in the past, four or five years ago. I have to concentrate on football and do my job”
“I spoke to Lee Charnley yesterday evening and today about pre-season. We just concentrate on football and training”
“We are trying to do things as usual. We trained as normal. Preseason will start on July 3, but we still have to decide where”
“I have held conversations with Mike Ashley about what is going on and what they will do.”
“I’m confident. I’m happy. I will meet with Mike Ashley to discuss everything, including myself”.
Howay The Lads!!
74 comments so far
LewSpi v2.0
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:18 PM
Comment #41Jib @20
Newcastle United FC Limited It is a Private Limited Company with Share Capital, whereupon many Directors have been appointed since 2006, including a Mr. Lee Charnley in June 2009.
toontaff2
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:20 PM
Comment #42WelshBluebird9 will probably be on here tomorrow night, anyway! Especially if were getting beat! 😛
Bobbybee
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:20 PM
Comment #43Does it matter where he was taken to? If he wasn’t arrested and therefore cautioned, they had no reason to take him to anywhere secure. Truth is nobody knows what happened, ergo everything is purely speculation. In reality, if not arrested and cautioned, Penfold was free to leave any time he chose. Maybe he was simply there to point out what was what and was in fact, actually helping with their enquiries to speed things up. There’s been no mention of him being released on bail pending further enquiries, no mention of any charges or that he’s committed any crime whatsoever. He may well have been there purely to assist them in sorting out the mountains of paperwork on a purely voluntary basis. Is it really worth arguing about?
lesh
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:22 PM
Comment #44Tuff
Are we absolutely certain that a custody suite’s essential in these circumstances – especially when Charnley was probably cooperative?
All they’d surely need is a room in which Charnley couldn’t have access to communications media such as a phone, computer, and couldn’t be nobbled.
In fairness to Jib, he suggested that Benton might have been where Charnley was taken. I don’t think he said it as fact.
Furthermore, I, in one of my earlier jobs, have been in similar situations to those HMRC staff who carried out the visits and we used a room in an hotel, rented an office suite or in some other government facility to carry out interviews.
giimps
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:23 PM
Comment #45Its ok toontaff2 , il recognise welshie as hel be the one with velcro gloves and wellies with canes out the back , (according to his last date)
Jib
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:23 PM
Comment #46Mr Tuff
You remind me of a Jack Russell I used to have that furiously chased its tail when it got excited.
You still haven’t offered evidence that he was interviewed under caution.
In my opinion he assisted HMRC fully without formal need of cautions or lawyers etc. away from SJP.
toontaff2
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:24 PM
Comment #47Exactly, Bobby, we just want Penfold in the Toon stocks, so we can give him a good thwacking! Maybe they can do it outside the Strawberry before the Barnsley game.£1 a shot – could all be donated to HMRC!
toontaff2
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:26 PM
Comment #48Aye, imps! Let’s hop’s clothed!
http://www.richvens.co.uk/uploads/4/1/5/8/41582051/9687257.jpeg?280
toontaff2
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:28 PM
Comment #49FFS! Aye Gimp, Let’s hope he’s clothed!!!
http://www.richvens.co.uk/uploads/4/1/5/8/41582051/9687257.jpeg?280
I liked the picture –
Mister Tuff
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:30 PM
Comment #50giimps – my God I never thought of that and Jib was obviously keeping it quiet. Penfold tortured in the server room at Benton to get him to talk.
Disgraceful behaviour indeed -should be a public enquiry into this. Especially as Penfold had done nothing wrong and was only trying to help the Tax Inspectors out – in his own time as well.
A shocking tale of HMRC malpractices.
giimps
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:32 PM
Comment #51Toontaff2,
Penfold normally has to pay for that, hel be well chuffed
manxpie
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:33 PM
Comment #52So who was the “highly respected journalist” who said Ashley hadn’t even spoke or congratulated rafa? I hope he was at the presser wat a tit
Totally made up to cause trouble
LewSpi v2.0
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:35 PM
Comment #53manxpie
Was george caulkin i believe, which, to be fair, is out of character for him
ronaldo aarons
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:37 PM
Comment #54When a journo gets something wrong or reports something to cause a bit of a stir they should be called out for it at these press conferences a la Joe kinnear style!
ronaldo aarons
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:38 PM
Comment #55For those who do Rafa bingo, it might be worth considering that selz is likely to get a game. I think it’s likely on Friday.
manxpie
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:43 PM
Comment #56Yeah just checked amazing how they just get on with it on a daily basis
Lol we should just hire JFK for that sole reason at least he’d be of some use
Bobbybee
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:44 PM
Comment #57I noticed some clown trying to make an issue of the fact that we haven’t sold all our tickets for Cardiff. What is noticeable by its absence is that when we initially asked for ten thousand tickets, the game was fixed for a Saturday afternoon ko. In which case, all would have been sold. Sky moved the game to a Friday to suit themselves as always, therefore many who wanted to go simply couldn’t because of work commitments etc. I still reckon four and a half thousand on a Friday night to Cardiff is an exceptional turnout. Who else would match that?
Mister Tuff
Apr 27, 2017 at 2:48 PM
Comment #58lesh – if Penfold was arrested -as has been reported – he has to be produced at a Home Office Approved Custody Suite. No equivocation on that -is is the law of the land – as per the Police and Criminal Evidence Act – which by the way HMRC have to follow as well.
His rights have to be explained by the custody officer, reason for arrest, detention authorised. etc etc.
Totally different if a person is “invited” in -under their own steam – they can be interviewed under caution in an “interview room” (by the way there are also guidelines from the Home Office about interview rooms – panic buttons fitted etc etc.) However at any time as they are not under arrest they can get up and walk out.
I have personal knowledge of this area of work all my life – and have to laugh at some of the daft comments which have appeared on here from people who do not know what they are talking about. Folk can consider my input or the bluster merchants and come to their own conclusions.
Jib
Apr 27, 2017 at 3:00 PM
Comment #59Caulkin could have been telling the truth
from Twatter
George Caulkin?Verified account @CaulkinTheTimes 1h1 hour ago
George Caulkin Retweeted George Caulkin
Much more positive vibes at Nufc today: Ashley rang Benitez this morning, meeting planned for next few days to discuss future/transfers etc.
nufc786
Apr 27, 2017 at 3:03 PM
Comment #60http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39734893
Manager Rafael Benitez says it is “business as usual” on the football side at Newcastle United, despite Wednesday’s off-field investigations by Revenue and Customs.
“At the moment I am trying to concentrate as much as I can. I have been in contact with Mike he called me to congratulate the team and the staff,” the Spaniard, 57, said.
“We have been talking about a conversation, a meeting in a few days or weeks, what is going on, what happens in the future and the money that will be available
Jail for Ashley
Apr 27, 2017 at 3:08 PM
Comment #61Bobby,
Does regularly being quoted with Venky, Tan and Oyston not qualify you as being one of the worst owners in football, maybe not THE worst but to say he is nowhere near the worst is a complete falsehood.
hibbit
Apr 27, 2017 at 3:09 PM
Comment #62George Caulkin is probably the most reliably journalist covering us
Rafa never said when Ashley got in touch just that he had
so Culkin’s article could have been true at the time of printing
Jail for Ashley
Apr 27, 2017 at 3:11 PM
Comment #63https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/football/1131093/randy-lerner-mike-ashley-massimo-cellino-which-of-these-eight-football-owners-do-fans-despise-the-most/
Bobbybee
Apr 27, 2017 at 3:12 PM
Comment #64The problem is Tuff, there is only the press saying he was arrested. You know, those fine upstanding people who never get anything wrong? Other sources are saying he wasn’t arrested, nor has he been charged. He’s not even on police bail.
If he had been arrested, then nobody is arguing that he would have to be detained correctly. That stands on its own feet. The question is, who says he was arrested? He doesn’t. The evidence points to him helping them on a voluntary basis. If you have evidence that he was indeed arrested, then produce it. Like I say, if he was, then he has to have gone somewhere suitable. We don’t know. That’s the problem. Not many people in this day and age take the police on their word anymore. The majority no longer trust them, as has been born out in many opinion polls. But then, have they even said he was arrested? Apart from press reports – some say he was arrested, some say he wasn’t – nobody seems to know. Is it even worth arguing about? Does it matter? Like everything, the truth will out eventually, but the current evidence points to him not being arrested. We simply don’t know.
chinleymag
Apr 27, 2017 at 3:13 PM
Comment #65Mr Pardew hasnt been mentioned much in this tax farago. He was if I recall a big influence in getting Ba “over the line” Sounds to me like its about signing on fees and tax not paid on them. MA may be a lot of things but the accountancy side/audit//signed off accounts for his whole empire will I suspect be well legit.
The other thing I cant understand is why the Revenue have taken computers and paper work. If they have been fiddling they are hardly going to leave it in plain sight
Jail for Ashley
Apr 27, 2017 at 3:14 PM
Comment #66http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/11770309/The-10-worst-run-football-clubs.html?frame=endScreen
Ron Knee
Apr 27, 2017 at 3:28 PM
Comment #67Official statement from HMRC yesterday:-
“Investigators have searched a number of premises in the north east and south east of England and ARRESTED the men and also seized business records, financial records, computers and mobile phones.”
Bobbybee
Apr 27, 2017 at 3:31 PM
Comment #68Jail, give it up eh? We’re all aware of his past, you’re not the only one who’s suffered from it. We all have. No, he’s not the worst, nowhere near. Many other fans would happily swap owners with us when you look at the mess of their clubs. At least we’re solvent and back in the PL. I’m not defending him, just sick of hearing the same old same old dragged up every time a FALSE story appears in the press. Not all of us are badly anally retentive. We can move on. His past is appalling, have I ever said it isn’t? Have I not just said the sooner he sells up the better? Look at what the owners have put the fans through at Coventry for one. Or Pompey. Or Blackburn. Christ, even the mackems have said they’d swap lmao. I’m not looking for an argument about something that can never be solved. We’re stuck with him. Even you bought a season ticket this season for all your bluster. You’ll buy one next season too. Personally I don’t let one man spoil my love for NUFC. That love cannot be bettered by one prick. I choose to basically ignore him unless he does something stupid. He’s kept a low profile so far. Nothing has ever been proved about January, it was just the same people stirring the shyte as are currently claiming he hasn’t contacted Rafa. Things are good at the moment, can’t you just enjoy that? We know how you feel, you never let us forget ffs. He’s not my choice for owner, how many times do I have to repeat that before it sinks in? I don’t like what he’s done, but he’s not NUFC. WE ARE. The fans are NUFC,not Ashley. Nobody actually likes him, but if you think he’s as bad as it gets, you couldn’t be further from the truth. As long as Ashley lets Rafa do his job – and so far Rafa is happy enough – then I’m sorry, he’s not my centre of the universe. I tolerate him because owns the club. Have we ever had an owner he gives one about the fans? I must’ very missed that one lol. You obsess over him, I don’t. That’s the only difference mate.
Mister Tuff
Apr 27, 2017 at 3:33 PM
Comment #69bobbybee – indeed I agree that it is the press who have said he was arrested – nothing official from HMRC or a further statement from them. I too dislike the southern press and there dislike of the north.
The phrase “helping with enquiries” really should not be interpreted literally – that a really helpful chap is doing his utmost to help out the authorities. It is usually a euphamism for “he’s been nicked”.
Most of the big news outlets say he was arrested – with no statement from the club denying that.
None of use were there so we can only comment upon what we are told. I have “personal knowledge” of what the likely procedures involved are and have commented thus.
Also because there has been no further updates from HMRC we should not assume Penfold is not on bail. We just have not been told whether he is or isn’t.
So what I am saying is that there is a lot of speculation at the moment and I have tried to explain the most probable/likely scenarios involved.
Bobbybee
Apr 27, 2017 at 3:36 PM
Comment #70If that’s the case Ron, then he had to be taken to a secure place. And? Does it matter? Really? Was it worth making an issue of? That was my point entirely. Tuff n Jib were arguing over minute details of WHERE he was held ffs. As if that was really important. So he was arrested and Tuff was right. Well done Tuff. How does it feel? Exciting? Now can we move on?
Ron Knee
Apr 27, 2017 at 3:39 PM
Comment #71Just clarifying that he was arrested, Bobby.
Blofal
Apr 27, 2017 at 3:42 PM
Comment #72I must say I don’t believe these so called little injuries.
What Benitez will do is play fringe players with the odd academy player thrown in to get a better idea of who he wants to keep next season.
Players like Mbemba, Atsu, Aarons, Ameobi, Sterry, Sels, Barlaser (who we actually resigned at the end of March yet the club didn’t announce it??).
Bobbybee
Apr 27, 2017 at 3:43 PM
Comment #73Tuff, OK, fine. My point was is it worth bothering with? Further press releases said released without charges, but surely we would expect that? These are early stages and nothing says he can’t be arrested in the future either. No doubt they’ll make further enquiries and if they feel fit, they won’t hesitate to drag him in again, this time maybe not so friendly.
The argument about where he was taken to was, surely you’ll agree, not worth it. It’s all ifs and maybes until the facts come out. Certainly not worth arguing about where he was detained lol.
So it seems he was arrested according to Ron. No reason to doubt that, so you were right, he would be taken to a suitable place. I just don’t see how that effects anything that’s all. If he’s brought the club into disrepute then we can all agree that he should be sacked. Right? Anybody who does that deserves the boot. We can all agree that point.
Mister Tuff
Apr 27, 2017 at 3:44 PM
Comment #74Bobbybee – what’s with the how does it feel? exciting comments. No need for that at all – just explained my position without any rudeness.