There’s a report in the Times today from top reporter George Caulkin that Rafa Benitez is still waiting for a response from Mike Ashley.
This mirrors what Rafa has said today in Marca – the Madrid based Spanish outlet today.
It’s now three weeks since Rafa submitted his conditions to stay at Newcastle – after being asked to do so by the club’s hierarchy. – make that Mike Ashley.
The manager expected these conditions to become the basis for discussions on his new contract, but seemingly things have not moved forward much at all these past few weeks.
Rafa, however, says he is still talking with the club – that will be with Lee Charnley – but why does it take so long for this Ashley-led Newcastle to get anything done?
Rafa Benitez in his element – on the training pitch
Most clubs would be jumping at the chance to sign Rafa to a new long-term deal but not Newcastle under owner Mike Ashley.
The worry is that it’s clear that where Rafa wants to take the club – higher up the Premier League and challenge for trophies – doesn’t match the ambitions of the Newcastle owner.
If Ashley had ambitions for Newcastle, we wouldn’t have been continually fighting relegation during his long 12-year tenure as owner.
Even if Rafa signs on for the next three years, his future will remain in doubt as long as Ashley owns the club.
There are new reports today that several other bidders looked at Newcastle late last year, but the worrying thing about that is they walked away.
Ashley is asking too much for the club which is one reason it hasn’t sold, and his price for Newcastle will remain high.
Even if Rafa signs on for another three years, things may only marginally improve next season.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
59 comments so far
the ledge
Apr 17, 2019 at 10:27 AM
Comment #1That’s a surprise Ashley keeping Rafa waiting ,Bishop will be busy today!
hibbit
Apr 17, 2019 at 10:39 AM
Comment #2more PR fakeover bullshit from the Bishops PR team https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-utd-takeover-mike-ashley-16136622
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2019 at 10:39 AM
Comment #3If a journalist is allowed to ask about the contract talks, it will be answered with “talks are on going”. Journalists will be warned not to ask any follow up questions and that’ll be it.
bettyswallocks
Apr 17, 2019 at 10:52 AM
Comment #4Lascelles sea shells……………. If you want to take my post to Munster personally and be offended by it then feel free. I personally can’t be arsed to explain the context in which it was delivered if you can’t see it for yourself.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2019 at 10:55 AM
Comment #5Lascelles sells sea shells by the sea shore,
Surely you can tell Munster isn’t the sharpest tool in the box and that swallocks is just yanking his chain 😀
bettyswallocks
Apr 17, 2019 at 10:55 AM
Comment #6Charnley in the Q and A will no doubt be asked about the ongoing investigation by HMRC. The club have been guilty of tax evasion in one area by claiming back expenses on silver polish for the last 50 yrs.
bettyswallocks
Apr 17, 2019 at 10:58 AM
Comment #7Oxo have just introduced a new stock cube in recognition of the Munster Gaelic Football team. It’s called the laughing stock.
martoon
Apr 17, 2019 at 11:01 AM
Comment #8Another ex-player of ours seems to be in a spot of bother:
https://www.aol.co.uk/news/2019/04/17/united-coach-butt-bailed-over-alleged-assault/
It’s not clear if the woman involved was his missus but the article seems to imply it!
ronaldo aarons
Apr 17, 2019 at 11:04 AM
Comment #9That Ritchie being told to leave rumour, came from the s*n. Not really worth stressing about.
Lovem or Hatem
Apr 17, 2019 at 11:07 AM
Comment #10Is selling Shelvey for £20 mil and buying Bradley Dack for £15 mil a good deal?
bettyswallocks
Apr 17, 2019 at 11:21 AM
Comment #11Whilst driving around in your car ,if anyone sees a Liverpool fan riding a bicycle, don’t swerve to try and hit him. It could be your bicycle.
Lascelles sells sea shells by the sea shore
Apr 17, 2019 at 11:22 AM
Comment #12Apologies if if got the wrong end of the stick if it was it jest, I interpreted it as a slight against Irish sports, no harm done, I’m not looking to argue, just to enlighten those that don’t truly understand the cut and thrust of Irish games… I’m away back under my rock again 🙂 🙂 🙂
Jib
Apr 17, 2019 at 11:43 AM
Comment #13Jail for Ashley
Surely you can tell Munster isn’t the sharpest tool in the box
Oh the irony
Jib
Apr 17, 2019 at 11:49 AM
Comment #14Bettyswallocks knows absolutely naff about footy
He/she has a definite penchant for getting under
folks skin and getting a response.
He/she has found a blog run by a very easy going
nice guy and , has taken advantage of it.
Most footy blogs if you persist in irritating bloggers
for your own gratification and post sfa about footy
you soon get barred.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2019 at 11:53 AM
Comment #15When Ashley sacked Hoots and replaced him with a sacked league one manager, a guy who now has been well and truly found out, he seemed to get very lucky. Pardew bought himself and Ashley a lot of time with that first win against Lpool. It was followed by a very bland finish to the season, we all know what happened next. Not only did it quell any form of protest it had people banging the Ashley model drum. I think, after he quietly let’s Rafa walk away he’s hoping for a repeat of that. If it doesn’t come off and he sinks a massive PL club, surely the spotlight will be shone on the failing HoF and his disaster at Debenhams, not all publicity is good.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2019 at 11:55 AM
Comment #16Irony?? oh my gawd,
Coming from a guy who’s sole remit was to get at the anti Ashley clique and then got himself barred, finally!!! For goading said nice guy about his illness.
What a footin creep!!
Nostradamus the Geordie
Apr 17, 2019 at 11:56 AM
Comment #17News just in from Irma Geordie at St James Park, Rafa still hasn’t signed a new contract, is waiting on response from Mike Ashley. We asked Irma how she came up with this amazing news, she replied.
Newcastle haven’t released the story that Rafa has signed a new contract, how does a reporter put two and two together, thank god they are super smart to figure this out for the supporters.
Jib
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:06 PM
Comment #18https://twitter.com/NUFC360/status/1118468716239441920
Optimistic Panda
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:12 PM
Comment #19A Q&A with Charnley will be like a seance.
A few people muttering and asking questions and a fart will break the silence before a gust of wind clears the room.
Optimistic Panda
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:15 PM
Comment #20We don’t know who the manager will be next year.
We dont know who the owner will be next year
However we do know which players will be leaving in the summer.
Strange but true In the saga of Nufc
bettyswallocks
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:16 PM
Comment #21Jib………… Bettyswallocks only retaliates in response to goading and / or banter from other bloggers with regards to put downs. A bit of sarcasm , humour and provocation thrown in admittedly to spice things up on this great forum.
Jib / Jane / Just a fan et al , on the other hand have many remits and agendas to satisfy . The ones I have noticed as stand out are trying to muster support for the hierarchy at the club whilst trying to prove that they have some footy knowledge ( when in fact they have none) by plagiarising stats and reports from other websites and using the blog to satisfy warped cross dressing tendencies.
Jib and his team having evolved from the vile former poster ” Jeff from Benwell ” who was banned for downright offensive content have also been suspended and warned about future behaviour on the blog numerous times yet still feel justified in hypocritically sitting in judgement of others.
Geordie-john
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:17 PM
Comment #22Ashley, What is your game ? Why the fu#k are you doing this ? At least Talk to the bloke you knobhead.
bettyswallocks
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:23 PM
Comment #23I’m glad to see you’re becoming irritated Jib , it’s nothing less than you deserve . Some of your antics on here may have escaped the attention of some but not all. I will list them if you like but I’m sure others are well aware of your numerous agendas on here.
ashleysmate
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:23 PM
Comment #24Ashley has a lot of respect for Rafa, one of the WORLD’S top manager’s… Thats why he’s sitting on some yankee beach stuffing his hippo face with Easter eggs… the phatt bafoon
ronaldo aarons
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:27 PM
Comment #25George Caulking has been blocked from attending this Q&A.
ronaldo aarons
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:27 PM
Comment #26Caulkin lol
Just a fan
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:28 PM
Comment #27Dear betty.tell Karl to put a shirt on and get a shave he looks hideous.
I’m trying to line you up with a multiple but it’s just not possible even Mr tuff would reject you.
Mmmmm worth a thought though.
lesh
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:36 PM
Comment #28Geordie-john
You know that Ashley’s out of the country taking a well-earned break while giving himself the time and space to concentrate on important matters such as screwing Debenhams’ owners over. He’ll have left less important things like Newcastle United and its manager’s situation to his trusted lieutenant, Justin Barnes, he with the tact and sensitivity of a cow patt.
That being so, Barnes’ll be stonewalling any propositions from Rafa to Charnley – hence allowing Ashley to focus on more pressing matters, playing a game of brinkmanship which can only further sour any relationship Rafa may have had with Ashley.
In the meantime, there’s this season to finish without relegation, players to sell and buy and err, prepare for a trip to China.
Ashley’s management style is textbook – how not to retain key staff, motivate them and get the best out of them.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:48 PM
Comment #29ronaldo aarons,
Where did you hear that?
ronaldo aarons
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:51 PM
Comment #30Jail
ITK and all that 😉
Also he said on his twitter account.
George Caulkin
@GeorgeCaulkin
Have avoided incremental updates like this as far as possible, but the clock is ticking. Hopefully there will be a positive response from the club; Lee Charnley is doing media briefings this week (not with me) on the club’s accounts and I’m sure he’ll be pushed on Rafa’s future.
Then upon further questions as to who is attending he posted
George Caulkin
@GeorgeCaulkin
5h
Pretty much everybody apart from me. #naughtystep
bettyswallocks
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:59 PM
Comment #31Just a Fan……… That’s not Karl. It’s Lesh!
Chancel My MBembaship
Apr 17, 2019 at 1:01 PM
Comment #32mindshaft – not sure if anyone pointed this out to you, but neither of ‘our’ De Jongs are currently at Ajax. It’s Frankie De Jong who is currently at Ajax.
Chancel My MBembaship
Apr 17, 2019 at 1:01 PM
Comment #33Damn autocorrect. It’s Frenkie not Frankie!
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2019 at 1:07 PM
Comment #34lesh,
Like I said earlier there’ll be one question allowed on the situation with the threat of expulsion. The answer will be that the talks are ongoing which isn’t a direct line but offers no clarification on the situation at all.
Lindisfarne
Apr 17, 2019 at 1:08 PM
Comment #35…..because you would only need silver polish if you had actually won any cups…hehehe!
Sorry, I am a bit slow today.
Jib
Apr 17, 2019 at 1:08 PM
Comment #36Lesh on the left Betty on the right
hibbit
Apr 17, 2019 at 1:16 PM
Comment #37What time is Charnley’s Q&A meeting ????
is it being broadcast anywhere ????
Jib
Apr 17, 2019 at 1:18 PM
Comment #38George Caulkin@GeorgeCaulkin
I’m not banned, no, just don’t get invited to these Charnley briefings. I’ll live!
George thinks it’s because of his Staveley connection last winter
Jib
Apr 17, 2019 at 1:20 PM
Comment #39Hibbit
It’s on Channel 5
Just after Neighbours
Nostradamus the Geordie
Apr 17, 2019 at 1:24 PM
Comment #40Looking both at Brighton’s and Cardiff’s run in, Brighton could be in serious shite. Newcastle could be Brighton’s nail in the coffin.
After us they play Gunners and Man City, if they get relegated we should go after Grob.