Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez held no talks on his future with Magpies owner Mike Ashley this weekend, according to the Chronicle.
The newspaper claims that the Sports Direct tycoon was not at the AMEX Stadium for Newcastle’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Furthermore, their report states that there was no dialogue held between the two parties, despite Benitez being about to enter the final two months of his contract with the club.
A group of the team’s most influential players – Jamaal Lascelles, Martin Dubravka, Matt Ritchie, Paul Dummett and Ayoze Perez – have made it clear to the board that they want the Spaniard to remain in charge.
OPINION
This is extremely discouraging, although expected, news from The Chronicle. However, it still – still – beggars belief that with Benitez having just over two months left on his contract, talks are not underway 24/7. If this was any other club, with a world class manager who has done the job that Benitez has done at Newcastle, he would have been tied down to a new deal a long time ago. However, this is Newcastle we are talking about, so of course Ashley is seemingly content to simply let Benitez slip out of his grasp. There seems to be a feeling that an extension for the manager is inevitable. However, time keeps ticking along and nothing concrete seems to be happening in regards to a new deal for the Spaniard. Ashley should be doing everything he can to keep the former Liverpool chief at the club. If the Magpies lose Benitez then they will almost certainly be fighting – if not losing that fight – against relegation next season.
