Rafa Benitez’s future at Premier League side Newcastle United is in doubt and Championship underachievers Aston Villa could do a lot worse.
It is no secret that there would be a big crowd of Aston Villa fans lining up to help Steve Bruce pack his bags and say farewell to the second city.
After a run of just one win in nine games in all competitions, Bruce is perhaps under more pressure now than he’s ever been before at Villa Park. And despite backing their manager in the summer with the spectre of Thierry Henry looming, it seems that Naseef Sawiris and Wes Edens have accepted that they need to plan for a change if needed.
The Sun (30 September, page 59) reports that the board are now considering alternatives with Dean Smith, the boyhood Villa fan who has arguably turned Brentford into the Championship’s most attractive side, top of their list.
But the Villa fans have another man in mind; a genuinely top level coach who won the Championship title as recently as 2017.
It is well documented, after all, that Rafa Benitez is not happy at Newcastle United. The rift with owner Mike Ashley appears bigger than ever and The Magpies have failed to win any of their first seven games in the Premier League.
So some at Villa Park are dreaming that Rafa can be lured away from Tyneside.
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