Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley will take manager Rafael Benitez and his playing staff out for dinner this week in an attempt to build bridges, according to the Mail.
The newspaper reports that the Magpies chief, who was in attendance for the team’s 2-0 defeat to Leicester City on Saturday, will pay the entirety of the bill for a meal with the players, manager and his staff.
The Mail’s report claims that Newcastle’s managing director Lee Charnley has been working hard to try and reconcile Ashley and Benitez, with the pair having only met only three times during Benitez’s two and a half years at the club.
Newcastle have endured a woeful start to the season and are yet to win in the Premier League this season following a summer devoid of significant investment in the transfer market.
OPINION
This is a positive step forward from Newcastle’s owner. The fact that Ashley and Benitez have only met three times in the entire time the Spaniard has been in charge of the club is quite astounding, but also eminently believable. However, credit must be given to Ashley for trying to rectify the situation. Clearly the Sports Direct tycoon wants to have a better relationship with Benitez, perhaps realising that he is in danger of losing one of the finest managers in world football due to his own belligerence. It’s probably too much to expect plans for the winter transfer window to be discussed at this meal, but hopefully this is a sign that Ashley wants to increase his involvement in the club to a positive degree. If Benitez is able to persuade the owner to open his chequebook in January then there’s a chance that the Tyneside club can stave off the threat of relegation for another year. They need some fresh bodies through the door, that’s for sure.
