Newcastle United will be looking for a new manager now Rafa Benitez won’t extend his stay at the club.
Gary Neville has stated that he is not surprised that Rafa Benitez will leave Newcastle when his contract expires as he questioned what lies ahead for the North East club.
On Monday afternoon, Newcastle broke the news on their official Twitter account that Benitez will not extend his stay at St James’ Park, with his contract due to expire this Sunday.
Owner Mike Ashley isn’t a popular figure in the North East and this news will only increase tensions between him and the supporters.
Speaking to Sky Sports News (24/06/2019 at 7:10 pm), former Manchester United defender Neville gave his reaction to Benitez’s departure.
“There’s always been that tension there over the last year or two in terms of would he stay, is he getting the support he wants? It’s finally happened,” Neville told Sky Sports News.
“It’s not a surprise. He’s a manager with great ambition and a great track record. I think he’s had enough. What will happen at Newcastle? Who knows. The owner has tried to sell it, but it has always been a mystery up there.
“I have always felt sad, to be fair going to Newcastle over these last couple of years. I have always felt that there’s never been the connection between the ownership, and the fans, the players and the manager. You always need that at a club if you want to be successful.”
It will be a case of what next for Newcastle now Benitez is set to leave. Who will be the new manager and will Ashley finally sell?
Given what has happened over these last few years, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Ashley is still in charge, but who the club appoint next will be paramount to what happens to them next season.
The Magpies have already suffered two relegations under Ashley’s tenure, and with Benitez now leaving, that has only increased. Therefore, signing another safe pair of hands is exactly what Newcastle need.
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