OUT ON THE TOON

Rafa admits: I’m not here for ever

RAFA BENITEZ has served notice his Newcastle reign is not a long-term project.

The Toon boss is shopping for bargains, despite being promised a big transfer pot by owner Mike Ashley.

Benitez (above) said: “Normally, managers talk about projects saying

SLAVEN BILIC insists his scrap with Rafa Benitez is not Mayweather against Mcgregor and that talk of his job being on the line after two rounds is “ridiculous”.

His West Ham and Benitez’s Newcastle have lost their opening two league games – and the East Londoners are already weighing up options for their next manager.

Today’s St James’ Park clash packs extra punch as Toon boss Benitez was offered the Hammers job in 2015 before Bilic, but went to Real Madrid.

Former Croatia coach Bilic indulged in some prematch trash talking by claiming Toon’s net spending was higher than his.

But asked about facing the former Liverpool and Chelsea chief, he said: “I don’t pay any attention to that. Maybe you think it’s like Mayweather against Mcgregor? It makes no difference.

“My position? We spoke about that many times last season. I said what I said. I didn’t change one per cent my opinion. To talk about it after two games of the season is a bit ridiculous.”

The Hammers, who beat Cheltenham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, today play their fourth away match in a row while the London Stadium is out of action.

“OK we don’t have a point from two games but it’s zero points from two away games,” said Bilic.

“The first game was against Manchester United. I wasn’t happy with the way we played in defence but they are good. Very few teams in the world can cope with them. Then I saw their game against Swansea and I was like, ‘They are good’.

“And there were a lot of positives in our second game at Southampton, so we should be really optimistic.

“After Newcastle we have a break and in the next four games we have three at home.

“It’s not a bad situation.”

It may be only the third Prem game of their season, but Bilic and Benitez can ill afford defeat SHOWDOWN Ashley saw the defeat to Spurs.. now he could lose his coach, too they need three, four or five years. I’m not talking about that, because you...