It’s probably the most important fixture of the year- Benitez v Ashley.
No date has yet been set but it’s expected to take place at some stage this week as vital decisions are made for next season.
Benitez doesn’t quite have the same popularity rating as Kevin Keegan but he does carry the faith of the overwhelming majority of Newcastle fans.
Whether the meeting turns into a showdown or not is open to speculation but the outcome will be vital if Newcastle are to start making inroads towards the status they enjoyed during the first decade of the Premier League.
If the ambition of Benitez isn’t matched from the other side of the negotiating table then next season could be depressingly familiar to recent adventures in the Premier League.
“I will meet him this week, but it’s always important for him, for us, to feel the love of the fans and the passion in the stadium,” Benitez explained to the Daily Mail.
“We will be in contact to be sure we share the same ambition about how to improve, how to be competitive and to do the right things for everyone.
“I already have an idea of what a successful club could look like. I think also he has an idea. I think we have to put both ideas together this week.”
The name of Andros Townsend is likely to feature in the discussions, not simply as a signing target but as an example of what can go wrong in a transfer.
The smoke signals from Rafa’s biggest fixture of the year are eagerly awaited.
