Former Newcastle United striker Mick Quinn has told the Magpies’ board to get manager Rafael Benitez’s contract sorted as quickly as possible.
The Spaniard is in the final few months of his current deal and there has yet to be any indication that the two parties are genuinely close to agreeing terms.
Quinn has had his say: “I have a simple message for Newcastle United, and I’m sure it’s one just about every fan agrees with,” he wrote in his column for The Chronicle. “Get Rafa Benitez’s contract sorted. And get it done as quickly as possible.
“Rafa’s made it clear he wants to stay, the club seem like they want to keep him, and the vast majority of supporters want him to be manager come the start of next season. So just give him what he wants and let’s get this deal signed. It’s ridiculous that we’ve reached April and this still hasn’t been sorted.”
OPINION
Quinn is right when he says this is a message almost all Newcastle fans will be on board with. Benitez has done a phenomenal job at Newcastle and is adored by both the supporters and the players. He is the one reason why the club are set to secure Premier League safety for the second year in a row. With that said it is bizarre that no new deal has yet been agreed between him and the Magpies’ board. Obviously each party will have their respective demands, but there needs to be compromise at some point. Benitez has done more than enough, by rights, to earn an extension, but this is Newcastle we are dealing with. Nothing is ever straightforward with this club. Hopefully once the team’s top flight status is officially secured for another year then we will see progress start to be made. But, Quinn’s right, it should never have taken this long in the first place.
