FOOTBALL Turmoil on Tyne but boss will stay TOONED IN
RAFA BENITEZ will NOT walk out on Newcastle United.
The Toon chief has decided to stay put and see how the campaign pans out at St James’ Park after r he was left fuming followingwing the closure of a frustrating transfer window.
Benitez has been left licking his wounds following a stringg of near- misses in the market, but will soldier on for theh sakek of f the Toon Army.
The Spaniard feels a debt of loyalty to a group of supporters who have put him on a pedestal during his time on Tyneside.
He knows that walking out on them could precipitate a collapse in t he club’s fortunes.
Benitez is unwilling to see all last season’s hard work – when he captured t he Championship title at the first time of asking – go to waste.
Issues
However, his relationship with t the key decisionma makers has been str stretched and other c clubs will now be well aware of his issues with those a above him. A whopping com compensation figure of £5 £5million-plus will be payab payable by either side in the event of a split. It remains to be seen if any other interested parties – most notably West Ham – will be prepared to write a cheque to Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to secure the services of the ex-Real Madrid chief.
The Hammers wer weree thumped on a trip to the north-east only last week.
Despite receiving a vote of confidence from West Ham co- owner David Sullivan, Slaven Bilic (left) remains under serious threat.
The Hammers’ board have a track record of standing by their managers.
But that is a position that could change if the crowd at the London Stadium turn against the Croatian during their first home game against Huddersfield Town next Monday night.
Sullivan and fellow coowner David Gold are also notoriously reluctant to pay any figure of compensation – adding another stumbling block to any deal involving Newcastle’s disgruntled boss.