‘Ashley must be sensible’

PLEA: Rafa Benitez RAFA BENITEZ has called on Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to be “sensible” about his future spending.

Ashley turned up at Crystal Palace on Saturday to watch his team for the first time since May 2017, when the Magpies were still in the Championship.

Newcastle’s lack of firepower in the deadlock at Selhurst Park strengthened Benitez’s hand after his club made £20m net profit in the summer transfer window.

Around 2,900 travelling fans bellowed their support for Benitez, renewed their call for Ashley to “get out of our club” and unfurled a banner for the retail magnate’s attention.

It said: “Sports Redirect. com” – a campaign against his empire of stores.

Asked if Ashley’s appearance in the stands was a sign that he is ready to re-engage or invest after last season’s aborted takeover brokered by tycoon Amanda Staveley, he said: “I have to take this as a positive.

“We have to be sure everyone supports the team, starting with the owner. Then we will be stronger.

“If he comes to see the team, he can see his players, what we have, and hopefully he can be more sensible – and then he will be ready to do something if we need to do it.

“I knew he was coming. I don’t know if the players knew, but, to be honest, I think they were more worried about (Wilfried) Zaha and things like that.”