According to the Northern Echo, Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley remain ‘confident’ Rafa Benitez will eventually sign a new deal this summer – despite handing the Spaniard their ‘final offer’.
Not only that, the Echo’s piece claims that Newcastle chiefs are yet to even consider any potential ‘plan B’ should the Spaniard reject their alleged take it or leave it contract proposal.
The club may be expecting him to sign ‘eventually’, but this shows complete and utter ignorance if true – especially when they’ve hardly given Rafa an offer he can’t refuse by all accounts.
There’s been talk of a £60m budget PLUS cash from player sales, but coupled with that have been reports that Ashley has been unwilling to compromise when it comes to transfer policy – suggesting Rafa won’t have a great deal of freedom in the transfer market once again.
Here’s a snippet from the Northern Echo’s latest piece on Rafa’s future:
‘NEWCASTLE UNITED are still to formulate a ‘Plan B’ that would provide them with an alternative option if Rafael Benitez refuses to sign a new deal to remain as manager.
‘Ashley and Charnley remain confident Benitez will eventually sign a new deal, and sources claim the duo are not concerned at speculation linking the former Champions League winner with a possible move to Italian side Roma.
‘As a result, they have not approached anyone else to be manager and do not intend to put detailed back-up plans in place ahead of this month’s contractual deadline.‘
The arrogance of Mike Ashley really does know no bounds and his complete and utter contempt for Newcastle United is evident once again here if these claims are true.
Not agreeing to Rafa Benitez’s demands is bad enough, but it sounds like there’ll be more valuable time wasted this summer should he walk away, with it sounding like they’re anything but prepared to appoint a replacement should the worst happen.
Hopefully this ‘confidence’ is a positive sign and Benitez does in fact stay, however I sense total ignorance here on their part.
