During his latest piece for i News, respected North-East journalist Michael Walker claims that Mike Ashley has been ‘irritated’ by Rafa Benitez’s recent comments claiming it would be a ‘miracle’ if we stayed up this season.
This is of course incredibly ironic, as the reason Rafa thinks it will be a miracle is down to the lack of investment he has been given on the pitch. Benitez has been managed horribly by Newcastle and totally wasted – he is only still here because of his love of the club and the clause in his contract that means he, until now, had to pay £6m to leave.
Here’s a snippet from his latest piece for i News, claiming the board were not impressed by Benitez’s comments:
‘Benitez’s recent description of possible Premier League survival as a “miracle” is an exaggeration which has irritated those above him. It may also not have lifted the morale of his squad.
‘It would be no surprise if Ashley is thinking post-Benitez. Although the team have slipped into the bottom three of the Premier League and there is a belief that Ashley must act to protect an asset, this ignores previous relegations on his watch.
‘Ashley may accept relegation reluctantly, then try to rebuild. Newcastle United is a small fraction of his business concerns.’
Ashley is gambling with our future once again, as unfortunately for us, we are not the biggest of his business interests, probably the least important is his eyes. He is happy to run the risk of relegation and it is a farce we have ended up with this transfer stand off; Benitez rightly wont sign a new deal until players are signed yet Ashley wont back the manager until he signs a new contract.
It again is a predictable excuse from our owner to hide behind to not invest, like the takeover talk. Our net spend since he bought the club in 2007 is £32m – under £3m per season. That fact speaks louder than the supposed ‘concerns’ the hierarchy has over Rafa’s comments.
Still think it was wrong of benitez to make this statement especially for the purpose of morale and team building. However he made the statement while we were sitting outside of the relegation zone, so I can understand the owner being unhappy with benitez accepting his failure as a manager when he is being paid handsomely for the role. If we said to our boss we weren’t going to hit our target we would be reprimanded or even sacked. Now sitting inside the relegation zone he is saying we will survive?? Strange
Whinger(Quote)
Rip nufc geordies just didnt stand up to him makes me wonder what a geordie is now days good luck you sheep keep giving him your money to keep him there mugs
larry(Quote)
It kills me to see Ashley pulling the wool over our eyes no desire just pure greed .no intentions of selling. Now he will spin it on Benitez and sell season tickets .he has destroyed team as payback to fans he clearly hates
Steve Gibson(Quote)
“…Premier League survival as a “miracle” is an exaggeration which has irritated those above him…”
Who the F in their right mind thinks that is an exaggeration?
sickandtired(Quote)
He certainly wont be selling a Season Ticket to me Steve, I really have had enough of his Lies cant stand the Bloke stopped using his shops Years ago none of the supporters around where I sit are renewing next Season, it has got to the stage where we go because we have paid but none of us spend a single Penny inside the ground
fj1200xxx(Quote)
Just to add if Ashley Pi$$es off we will renew but not otherwise
fj1200xxx(Quote)
Not surprising that House of Fraser in the Metro centre was selected for closure which Ashley clearly saw as another opportunity to stick it to the Geordies whom he hates. Not a nice man and whats the odds on Debenhams closing next? Despite his blatant disregard for the North East thousands still turn up at his Sports direct advertising stadium every fortnight to line his coffers, Stockholm syndrome springs to mind. Empty stadium will be the only way to get rid of his horrible tenure and then we can rebuild, very sad and painful in the short term it will be worth it. Anyone see it happening or do we really enjoy being wingers?
George Ridley(Quote)
Upset the board….! Do you ar5hh01e5 know anything at all about the current $h!t going on @St James’s @the moment….?
I thought not.
We have no board..!
We have 1 director who wouldnt even be a good rag man and is only named as such so Ashley has a cat to kick.
Get your facts right and stop stirring the $h!t.
Peter henderson(Quote)