Former Rangers manager Ally McCoist has despaired over the situation at St James’ Park with Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez.
The Spaniard now has mere days remaining on his Magpies contract, with no agreement close to being signed. McCoist is gutted for the club’s supporters.
“I’m bewildered, actually,” he told talkSPORT [24/06; 07:55]. “If Newcastle lose Benitez, what a kick in the teeth it would be for the Newcastle supporters, who have gone through it in the last three, four, five seasons. It’s just incredible.
“Benitez has probably been the most successful Newcastle manager since Sir Bobby [Robson], I would’ve thought. The fans love him and rightly so. The lack of information coming out of St James’ Park is absolutely alarming from Newcastle supporters’ point of view.”
OPINION
McCoist hits the nail on the head, here. The situation on Tyneside is absolutely ridiculous and it seemingly isn’t going to end well for the Newcastle supporters. Apparently Magpies owner Mike Ashley is perfectly happy for the best manager the club has had since Sir Bobby Robson to walk out the St James’ Park exit door. The Sports Direct tycoon is a businessman, not a football expert, we all know that. However, you don’t have to be a savant of the beautiful game to see that Newcastle need Benitez on board if they are to move forward in the years to come. But Ashley is so wedded to saving money and his way of running the football club that he is prepared to give the Spaniard the boot. As McCoist says, it’s radio silence from the Magpies, and that must be hugely dispiriting for the club’s supporters. All they can do now is hope for a miraculous turnaround in regards to their beloved manager.
