NUFC release statement addressing Benitez’s future, summer transfers & the sale of the club

Newcastle United have published ‘detailed minutes’ from the Fans Forum meeting held at St James’ Park last Wednesday, with the club confirming that discussions to extend Rafa Benitez’s contract are ‘ongoing’ and the club IS still up for sale.

For anyone who doesn’t know, the ‘Fans Forum’ is a “body consisting of senior club officials and 16 supporters which meets during the season to discuss all areas which affect those who follow the club. It was introduced in 2013 to enhance communication between fans and the club, enabling fans to give those who make decisions and implement services a fuller understanding of their views and the issues which affect them. The result is constructive dialogue between those who are passionate about the success of Newcastle United.”

Now to the minutes published today from last week’s meeting. Here’s some of the key findings:

1 – The club’s response to questions over Rafa Benitez and transfers:

Fan forum: Club response to Rafa's future and transfers: The club stressed that its conversations with the manager are ongoing and include discussions
around the transfer pot available. #nufc

— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) May 2, 2018

‘The club stated that the manager has a year remaining on his contract. As the manager has publicly stated, discussions to extend his contract are ongoing. 

‘The club stressed that its conversations with the manager are ongoing and include discussions around the transfer pot available.’

‘The club stated that relegation to the Championship had undoubtedly given clubs that had remained in the Premier League an advantage financially. The club also discussed, in addition to transfer fees, that there are often significant costs such as its wage bill and agents fees that are not factored in or referred to. The club also noted that figures attributed to transfer fees in the public domain were often inaccurate. During the 2016/17 season, the club took a considerable gamble to invest significantly in the team in order to gain immediate promotion. By way of example, the club committed heavily to its wage bill, which was well beyond not only its competitors in the Championship, but also many clubs in the Premier League.’

‘The club strengthened in summer 2017 and also made offers to buy players in January prior to acquiring players on loan.’

‘The club explained that the recruitment process is year-round and doesn’t stop. The manager recruitment team are talking about targets for this window and have been for some time.’

Club response to summer transfers: The club explained that the recruitment process is year-round and doesn’t stop. The manager
and recruitment team are talking about targets for this window and have been for some time. #nufc

— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) May 2, 2018

2 – The club’s response to questions over the sale of the club:

‘The club stated that the position has not changed and if or when there is anything to update, the club would do so.’

Club response when asked if it was still for sale: The club stated that the position has not changed and if or when there is anything to update, the
club would do so. #nufc

— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) May 2, 2018

3 – The club’s response when asked if we have options to buy any of the players currently on loan:

“The club confirmed that it does have an option to make Martin Dúbravka’s loan move permanent but does not have a similar option for Kenedy.”

Club response to loan deals: The club confirmed that it does have an option to make Martin Dúbravka’s loan move
permanent but does not have a similar option for Kenedy. #nufc

— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) May 2, 2018

So, Rafa’s talks are ongoing and include plans over our spending this summer, the club is still up for sale, we have an option to sign Dubravka but not Kenedy.

Here’s some additional details that have emerged regarding a potential extension of St James’ Park, season-ticket numbers and money raised by the NUFC Foodbank:

Fans Forum minutes detail no desire to extend SJP – that's because Ashley has taken the lease on land at Strawberry out of #NUFC ownership and into his own to serve his own business interests.

— Michael Martin (@tfMichael1892) May 2, 2018

Line buried in there but NUFC also reveal that they have around 40,000 season ticket holders (they hit their 'soft cap' last season).

That's damned impressive…

— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) May 2, 2018

#nufc fans Forum minutes: "The @nufcfoodbank has seen collections totalling more than £150,000 of produce & cash donations in just 15 months"

Hats off to every #nufc fan & opposition fan who has contributed, as well as to the club & the @nufcfoodbank volunteers

— Chris Waugh (@ChrisDHWaugh) May 2, 2018

Some pretty poor and tame responses from NUFC officials here, but worth a read nonetheless. Read the minutes in full HERE. 

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