Simon Jordan claimed Newcastle United’s value hadn’t dropped despite Rafa Benitez leaving his post as manager.
The former Premier League chairman was asked by Claire Rafferty whether Benitez’s exit would have caused the Magpies to be worth less and Jordan was confident that it had no effect on the club’s value.
“No, not really,” said Jordan on talkSPORT (21:29, Monday, July 8th).
“I don’t think it has helped the stability as for me if I was coming in to buy Newcastle, honestly, I’m not sure I would want Rafa Benitez as I think he is one of those managers that will only operate under conditions that he determines and the moment he doesn’t get it, he’ll backchannel you through the media, and that automatically means you have a problem as he is a walk-on-water merchant with the fans.”
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire previously suggested, in an interview with the Chronicle, that it wouldn’t be unreasonable to suggest the Magpies’ valuation had gone down 10%, without Benitez, as the chances of Newcastle being relegated had increased.
OPINION
Jordan clearly isn’t Benitez’s biggest fan, as he wouldn’t hire him if he brought Newcastle and refers to him as a walk-on-water merchant which isn’t exactly flattering, so of course, he dismisses the idea Newcastle’s value has dropped without him. However, Maguire clearly has a good point about Benitez’s exit negatively affecting the Magpies’ price. With Benitez at the helm, a manager who guided the Magpies to two comfortable finishes in the Premier League, you didn’t overly worry that Newcastle United could be relegated. While the Magpies may have dabbled with the relegation battle over the last two seasons, there was no point where panic was at an all-time high, and that’s because the club had an experience manager to count on. After all, Benitez was Premier League proven, following spells at Chelsea and Liverpool, and averaged an impressive 1.48 points per match across his Magpies spell (Source: Transfermarkt). So it’s understandable to suggest that without him, and no replacement appointed as of yet, that the Magpies’ value on the market may not be as high as it previously was.
