NEWCASTLE UNITED HAVE announced ‘with disappointment’ that contract negotiations with Rafa Benitez have stalled and the Spaniard will leave his position as manager this month.
“We have worked hard to extend Rafa’s contract over a significant period of time, however it has not been — and will not be — possible to reach an agreement with Rafa and his representatives,” a club statement read this afternoon.
Newcastle had hoped to tie Benitez down to a new contract at St James’ Park heading into the 2019/20 season, but talks have been unsuccessful and he will depart after three years in charge.
The 59-year-old guided Newcastle to a 13th-place finish in the Premier League last season.
“We would like to thank Rafa and his coaching team for their efforts over the last three years and their significant contribution to what has been collectively achieved,” the statement added.
“We would also like to thank our supporters, players and staff for their patience during a period of uncertainty.
“The process to appoint a successor will now begin.”
Despite failing to keep Newcastle in the top flight shortly after taking over, Benitez earned hero status on Tyneside as he led Newcastle back to the Premier League at the first time of asking and then stabilised the club by finishing 10th and 13th in the last two seasons.
However, the Spaniard did not hide his displeasure at the lack of backing he was afforded by Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and was believed to be seeking assurances over the budget he would have to work with before committing his future to the club.
Benitez has been linked with a move to manage Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang, with the favourite to replace him on Tyneside being Garry Monk, who was sacked by Birmingham earlier this month.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche has also been named as a potential replacement for Benitez, with former Newcastle man Chris Hughton also reportedly in the running.
Newcastle are currently subject of takeover interest from Sheikh Khaled and the Bin Zayed Group, but fans had been hopeful of keeping Benitez at the club regardless of the current situation with the owners.
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Strange one amid the impending arrivals of Mbappe & co
Mike Ashley’s final insult to Newcastle
I wonder if the Sheikh will still buy Newcastle now? Terrible foresight by Ashley
Benetiz with a bit of funding would have turned the top 6 into the top 7. Newcastle are a sleeping giant of a football club and deserve so much more from Ashley and Co. Another relegation would destroy them, they need to get it right and fast.
@Hardly Normal: huge club, massive fan base and loyal supporters, it seems the only reason that club isn’t near the top of the table is the owner. This might be the last straw for Newcastle fans as bad as it was before for Ashley I’d imagine it’ll be ten times worse now
@aidan mccormack: he doesn’t care, he’s more interested in saving doomed department stores..
NO
So again the magpie fan’s has to suffer. Benitez is going to be a big loss for Newcastle United. Sooner the new take over the better.
Just the opportunity ROY wants
Very dour manner but one of the best managers around. He deserves to be at a top club. Newcastle were very lucky to have him for 3 years…
When Ole is inevitably sacked in November he would be a brilliant replacement if still available. He would put a team structure in place as well as been extremely shrewd in the transfer market. Would love if he could come in right now tbh.
@Eric Djemba-Djemba: MU could do (and have recently done) a LOT worse! He’s an incredibly unrated manager when you look at his track record of achievements at different clubs. There’s no doubting his organisational and stabilising skills, he’s a master at it. However, I’d be surprised if he joined MU with his LFC history, but I’d equally expect he’s also above such ‘loyalties’ – he’s far too smart for that.
Rafa keeping them up year after year is akin to winning a trophy. Ashley is betting on the promoted teams being worse than they are not backing the magpies to be better
Could Newcastle’s loss be Chelsea’s gain ?
@Shane Lad: pretty sure he wont go back there given his last experience of chelsea
@Shane Lad: even though he had some success there the fickle fans didn’t like him so I’d say not
If there’s any team in the PL I feel sorry for it’s Newcastle, there was a time when they were seriously pushing top 4 but in the last 10 years it’s just been so up and down for them literally. They are a big team and they have a great fan base (apart from the horse punchers) and honesty if it wasn’t for having the worst owner in the league they could have become like what Spurs are now or at least be in the position Wolves are in where they’ve Europa League football and can take it to the big 4 when they play them. No club as big as Newcastle should be relegation prone. Rafa is one of the great unsung managers never getting the respect he deserves because of ungrateful fans like Madrid and Chelsea, any team from 5th downwards would be lucky to have him
Rumour that he’s going to Liverpool and Klopp is off to Barcelona.
@FlyingDogThing: #fakenews