Newcastle legend Micky Quinn blasts Mike Ashley and brands Rafa Benitez ‘world class’

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Former Newcastle United striker Micky Quinn has tore into Mike Ashley’s treatment of Rafael Benitez.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Micky Quinn let his feelings be known about the current situation at Newcastle, with owner Mike Ashley keeping some very tight strings on his wallet.

The summer transfer window is only open for a few more weeks, and the Magpies have only managed to sign Martin Dubravka, Ki Sung-yueng and Kenedy on loan so far at a combined cost of just £4 million.

Fans are harbouring genuine fears for the club’s Premier League safety at this point, and are also worried about how the lack of money being made available will affect the future of beloved manager Rafa Benitez.

The Spaniard has had a successful time in charge of the club over the past couple of years, getting the Magpies promoted back to the English top flight in 2017 and masterminding a 10th-placed finish last term.

But the Toon Army will be lucky to finish as well in 2018/19 if they do not sign some better quality players, and Quinn, who represented Newcastle between 1989 and 1992, has laid into Ashley whilst speaking on TalkSPORT.

He said: “When you’ve got Brighton and Huddersfield outspending a mighty club like Newcastle United in the transfer market, not for one, not for two, but maybe three windows – it’s embarrassing.

“Rafa has had to wheel and deal like a second hand car dealer in the transfer market to bring players on loan. They have had at this moment in time 11 players walk out that door.

“The frustration is there, in my opinion, that Rafa Benitez is a world class manager, he needs backing. He’s got the backing of the fans, but he needs backing from the owner to give them that money, to take Newcastle to the next level – that’s what they need.

“It’s pathetic the transfer money that he has being given. Absolutely pathetic, it’s embarrassing for a club of that stature to get a pittance.”

Quinn’s views will certainly resonate with frustrated Magpies supporters, who must be expecting a lower finish than 10th come May next year the way things are going at the moment.

Perhaps the ‘world class’ title is a bit far, but Benitez is certainly a fantastic coach who has proven he can get average quality players to play above themselves – whether he can do that for two seasons running though is unlikely, and Ashley must match the ambitions of the Spaniard.