Yesterday was a pretty normal, run-of-the-mill Monday in the world of Newcastle United – until it wasn’t!
There were no statements from the football club about the takeover speculation. There were no players being unveiled in their newly printed Toon top. There was not even any advertising hoardings being loaded onto a truck.
So what caused the buzz of internet activity, and the rumour-mill to kick into top gear?
A mere sighting of Rafa Benitez being driven into the training ground.
Sky Sports cameras spotted him in the back seat of a vehicle, and suddenly, he is staying… or he isn’t…or he might be.
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It is a sad state of affairs at our club, when so much is made out of literally nothing.
He could have been there for a myriad of reasons, but such is the lack of any communication from St James’ Park these days, that fans and media are left guessing about every tiny crumb they can find.
So was he here to sign his contract extension? Was he putting things in order for his departure? Was he there to negotiate for a player? Was he talking to the Bin Zayed Group? Was he just working from the office for the day?
As usual, no one knew.
Newcastle resorted to their usual response
So naturally the regional journalists contacted the club to see if there was anything going on.
Sadly, and yet so predictably, the answer was “no comment”.
Even one of the local reporters who covers Newcastle day in, day out, tweeted how sad it has become that this was a story at all.
To simply continue to stonewall every request for comment on anything and everything, as they have since the season ended, is not helpful to anyone – least of all the fans.
Until there is a change in the way information is given – no matter how big or small – there will always be an element of distrust between fans and those in charge.
It is one of the main reasons why fans are so anxious to have a change of ownership, and yet, it really does not have to be that way.