Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has been in charge of the club for a three-year period.
Newcastle United have accepted that their manager Rafa Benitez will not stay at the club beyond his current contract, according to a report.
The Times state that the Magpies are searching for Benitez’s successor because they now accept that he will not extend his three-year stay at St James’ Park.
It is said that no fresh talks have been made with the former Valencia boss and he is set to leave when his contract expires in six days time.
Controversial owner Mike Ashley turned to Benitez towards the back end of their 2016 relegation campaign when their season ended in disaster, mainly under Steve McClaren.
Despite dropping down to the Championship, Benitez stayed on at the club and helped them earn instant promotion back to the promised land by winning the league.
The Spaniard then followed it up by a top 10 finish, and most recently a 13th-placed finish in the league – all seen as very respectable results because he was working under a limited budget.
The Times report further states that Benitez’s relationship with Ashley has been eroded beyond repair and that he won’t work under the retail businessman.
It is said that amid Benitez’s potential departure, a search for a successor will be hampered because of the uncertainty regarding Newcastle’s ownership.
Simply put, this has been the news Newcastle United fans across the country have been dreading. Amid all the off-the-field problems at the club, he was the one shining light for the Toon Army faithful.
Benitez’s potential departure will only further increase the tension and problems between the fans and Ashley. The Magpies have suffered two relegations under his ownership and chances of that happening again are only increasing.
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