Newcastle fans have their say on Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle future, speaking exclusively to Geordie Boot Boys.
Rafa Benitez may, or may not, be manager next season; the club may, or may not, be sold; and no official is willing, or permitted, to make a statement about things. This football club is a shambles, and there is no way to sugarcoat it.
With so many important issues unresolved, we asked some selected fans for their thoughts on the current state of the football club, and their hopes going forward.
There is just over a week until Rafa’s contract officially expires, and over five weeks since talks between himself and the football club took place.
Yet, incredibly, there has still been no word from either side on what on earth is going on.
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Some fans are not optimistic of a Rafa stay at Newcastle
Long distance fan Noel Batchelder, 40, from Johannesburg, South Africa, fears that if Ashley stays, Rafa will go, but thinks he may know more about a takeover than we do, and believes he is playing a waiting game before making his intentions known.
He said: “I actually think he could know more about the current situation regarding the sale of the club than the fans think. [I] can’t see him staying if Ashley stays.
“Rafa is a pro and will do everything by the book, as far as playing a waiting game. End of June he will make his move.”
Season ticket holder, Chris Cossey, 40, from Wallsend thinks similar.
“If Mr Ashley stays the owner of the club, then it’s a 50/50 chance he will stay. If we get new owners, I’m more confident,” he said.
40-year-old Mark Nichols, from Southampton, thinks the whole situation is “embarrassing” and was less optimistic.
He fumed: “It’s embarrassing it hasn’t been sorted sooner. But why would he commit to this regime when he’s not been given the tools for the job? We should be pushing for Europe, not relegation scraps!”
Keith Ogle, 53, from Woodplumpton, Lancashire, has had a season ticket for 37 years, and is also angry, calling the whole thing “a tragedy”.
“I think he will leave. He has been forced out,” he said. “Rafa is a thorn in [Mike] Ashley’s side.”
“Ashley just wants to take the free publicity from the club and spend as little as possible whilst doing so.
“It is a tragedy.”
But not every fan was quite so pessimistic.
Jake Swinburn, from Stanley, a 24-year-old Gallowgate End season ticket holder, struck a more optimistic tone.
“I think, given the fact that he is keen to continue living as close to Liverpool as possible, he will likely stay under the current regime, although time is most certainly of the essence,” said Jake.
“Should the takeover happen, however, there is no guarantee new owners will want him to continue his work here,” he added.
But Jake did say that Benitez himself must shoulder a portion of the blame for the current stalemate, claiming the Spaniard could have been willing to commence talks with the club earlier than he did.
But he still laid the majority of blame on Ashley, adding that had the club shown the “required ambition” last season, Rafa would have committed his future to the club then.
Most fans laid the blame firmly at Mike Ashley’s door
Blame was firmly put at the door of Ashley and Lee Charnley by the other fans, with Chris calling the club’s handling of the whole affair “disgraceful”, with Rafa probably waiting for budget clarification, while Noel thinks Benitez would be “mad” to sign up before knowing who will own the club next season.
Noel’s sentiments were echoed by Mark, who firmly believes Rafa is blameless, and thinks his future “must hinge” on a takeover happening.
However, Keith’s comments on whether Rafa was to blame, are likely to resonate with most of the Newcastle fan-base.
He said: “No. I think he is keeping a dignified silence.
“He is a class act, unlike the shower of charlatans that currently run the club!”