OPINION
If there was one sure-fire way for any Newcastle United owner, be it current chief Mike Ashley or the Bin Zayed Group, to incite the supporters’ fury it’s sacking manager Rafael Benitez.
However, the Daily Mirror reported on Saturday that that is just what the latter plan to do should their proposed takeover of the Magpies go through. They will instead aim to bring in Arsene Wenger or Jose Mourinho in his place.
That is just ridiculous, and the club’s supporters will surely be tearing their hair out at this report. The Spaniard has done a magnificent job at St James’ Park so to give him the boot so callously would be hugely unfair.
Benitez’s current deal expires at the end of this month, and Ashley has put talks over a new contract on hold while he negotiates the potential sale of the club to the Bin Zayed Group.
Why would the new owners of a club with such fervent support, with fans who are so obviously devoted to Benitez, make sacking him their first order of business? It just doesn’t make any sense.
It’s a recipe for disaster, in all honesty, and would put the supporters’ backs up instantly. The BZG would surely want the fans to be supporting them if they do complete a takeover of the club, but that’s simply not going to happen if they get rid of the former Liverpool boss.
If the BZG know what is good for them then they will reverse their thinking here and back the current manager until he gives them a reason not to. Big names are all well and good, but Benitez loves the club and has proven his worth time and time again. He must stay.
